Hugo Broos warns South Africa must improve after Panama defeat

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has warned that his team are not yet ready for the 2026 World Cup after suffering defeat to Panama in Johannesburg, insisting significant improvements are required.

Bafana Bafana’s loss comes just months before the tournament, raising concerns about the team’s level as preparations continue.

Broos acknowledged that while the squad has potential, it currently falls short of the standard needed to compete on the global stage.

South Africa have been drawn in Group A, where they will face Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic.

However, the coach suggested his side must raise its performance considerably if they are to challenge in the competition.

“We have the players here and those who play abroad, that’s all. So I know there are still weaknesses in the team, and we can’t go into the World Cup at our current level; we need to bring something extra.

And again, we can work on that; there will perhaps be other players to watch in the coming months who could make our team better and stronger,” the Belgian coach said following the defeat.

Broos’ assessment reflects ongoing concerns about consistency and overall quality within the squad.

Despite having a pool of domestic and overseas players, he indicated that further development is necessary before the team can compete effectively at the World Cup.

The coach also addressed criticism surrounding the choice of opposition, explaining that the fixture served a broader purpose in evaluating his players.

Rather than focusing solely on the result, Broos viewed the match as an opportunity to identify areas requiring attention.

“So I knew that the goal of this match wasn’t to say, after the game, that we’re ready; there are still three months to go. But it was interesting to see what we still need to do, and that’s what we’re going to work on.”

With time still remaining before the tournament, Broos appears focused on refining his squad and addressing its shortcomings.

His comments underline a clear objective: to strengthen the team and ensure it is better prepared when the World Cup begins.