Ex-Sundowns transfer target headlines Panama squad for Bafana friendlies

Panama national team: Picture by Fepafut Panama

Bafana Bafana’s opponents for the upcoming back-to-back international friendly matches, Panama, have named a 23-man travelling squad headlined by a former Mamelodi Sundowns transfer target.

The CONCACAF outfit will clash with Bafana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 27, before playing another match at Cape Town Stadium four days later. Both teams are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana are in Group A alongside hosts Mexico, South Korea and the winner of a UEFA play-off involving Macedonia, Denmark and the Czech Republic. This will be South Africa’s fourth appearance at the World Cup. They last participated in this tournament in 2010 as hosts.

Getting past the group stage would be a history-making feat for Hugo Broos and his men. They begin preparations to achieve that by clashing with their Central American opponents, who are in the same confederation as Mexico.

Panama, on the other hand, will be at the World Cup for the second time ever. They debuted the global football competition at the 2018 edition in Russia. Just like Bafana, the Canal Men will be bidding to reach the knockouts for the first time. They lost all three of their group games in 2018.

PANAMA TO FACE BAFANA WITH FULL-STRENGTH SQUAD

Panama squad: Picture by Fepafut Panama

On Tuesday night, coach Thomas Christiansen named the players he will travel with to tackle Bafana. His squad includes a former reported Sundowns transfer target, Ismael Diaz. The 28-year-old striker is currently on the books of Mexican side Club Leon.

He was linked with Sundowns around 2023 when he was turning out for Club Deportivo Universidad Católica in Ecuador.

Also in Christiansen’s squad is Beşiktaş defender Amir Murillo and Carlos Harvey, who is Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s teammate at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer [MLS]. A number of players plying their trade in six South American leagues feature in the selection.

PANAMA SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS: Orlando Mosquera – Al-Fayha FC [Saudi Arabia], Luis Mejía – Nacional [Uruguay], César Samudio – Marathón [Honduras]

DEFENDERS: César Blackman – Slovan Bratislava [Slovakia], Jorge Gutiérrez – Dep. La Guaira [Venezuela], Amir Murillo – Beşiktaş [Turkey], Andrés Andrade – LASK Linz [Austria], Martín Krug – Levante [Spain], José Córdoba – Norwich City [England], Eric Davis – CD Plaza Amador [Panama], Jiovany Ramos – Academia Puerto Cabello [Venezuela], Roderick Miller – PFC Turan Tovuz [Azerbaijan]

MIDFIELDERS: Aníbal Godoy – San Diego FC [United States], Adalberto Carrasquilla – Pumas [Mexico], Carlos Harvey – Minnesota United [United States], Cristian Martínez – Kiryat Shmona [Israel], José Luis Rodríguez – FC Juárez [Mexico], César Yanis – CD Cobresal [Chile], Yoel Bárcenas – Mazatlán FC [Mexico]

FORWARDS: Ismael Díaz – León [México], Cecilio Waterman – Uni. de Concepción [Chile], José Fajardo – Uni. Católica [Ecuador], Kadir Barria – Botafogo [Brazil].