South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has taken aim at Nicaragua after Friday's goalless draw, accusing the Central American side of spending 90 minutes purely defending in what was Bafana Bafana's final warm-up match on home soil before departing for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Chances wasted, penalty missed

Lyle Foster struck the post from the penalty spot in the first half, while Oswin Appollis, Thapelo Maseko, and Sphephelo Sithole each drew saves from Nicaragua goalkeeper Erick Castrillo after the break. Despite those opportunities, South Africa could not find a way past a side determined to sit back for the full 90 minutes.

"If you play such a negative opponent it becomes very difficult," Broos told SABC Sport after the match. "Those people came here for 90 minutes to defend, they were just kicking the ball in front. And at the end, there was one injury after another. They were very negative, and it was very difficult."

Broos argued the missed penalty was decisive in shaping the contest. "If we scored that I am sure there would be more goals. The opponent would have had to try something and they didn't try anything," he said. "I don't know what the goal was of those people."

Despite his frustration with Nicaragua's approach, the Belgian coach insisted he was satisfied with his side's overall display. "I think we can be happy about the performance even if we didn't win. We had a few chances but I am satisfied," he added.

Sundowns players rested, Jamaica next

Broos also opted to field an understrength squad, giving his Mamelodi Sundowns players a well-earned rest after their CAF Champions League triumph over AS FAR at the weekend. He expects to field a closer to full-strength side in Bafana Bafana's next warm-up match against Jamaica in Mexico on June 5, before the squad departs for their high-altitude training base in Pachuca.

"There is another game on June 5 against Jamaica and I hope that opponent will play football against us," said Broos, with a pointed jab at Nicaragua's tactics. "Maybe that will be the first indication of the side that will start against Mexico."

South Africa open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium on June 11.