Bafana Bafana defender Aubrey Modiba has launched a plea for Hugo Broos to remain at the helm of the national team, insisting that the veteran Belgian tactician has massive “unfinished business” left to settle on the African continent.
Modiba’s comments come in the immediate, painful aftermath of South Africa’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup run, which came to a cruel end following a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Round of 32 at the Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday.
Despite the agonising nature of the stoppage-time exit, the tournament marked the first time in football history that Bafana Bafana successfully advanced past a World Cup group stage on foreign soil, breaking a 24-year qualification drought on merit in the process.
The architect behind this historic transformation is the 74-year-old Broos, who took over a fractured national team structure in 2021 and systematically reshaped its culture.
While the former AFCON-winning mentor had previously indicated that this tournament would be his final bow before entering retirement to spend time with his family in Europe, his post-match comments suggested a potential change of heart, admitting he still possesses “too much energy” to sit on the couch.
AUBREY MODIBA PLEADS FOR HUGO BROOS TO STAY
Speaking to reporters following the intense battle in California, the Mamelodi Sundowns star did not hide his desire to see the technical team remain intact ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
“I hope he stays. That one, yeah, I hope he stays,” Modiba stated emphatically. “He can still, you know—he has unfinished business with AFCON. So I hope he stays.”
Modiba further credited Broos with completely rewriting the psychological DNA of South African footballers, pointing out that the squad no longer suffers from an inferiority complex when matching up against global heavyweights.
“He has made a very positive impact. I think he has changed South African football, if we are being honest,” Modiba added.
“We haven’t qualified for these major tournaments consistently before. So yeah, I think he has changed that. The mentality of the players, the way we approach games. Because right now, we don’t fear anyone irrespective of the big names or whatever. We fully believe in ourselves and we believe we can match any team on the planet.”
Meanwhile, SAFA are yet to issue an official statement regarding Broos’ contractual status, with the federation reportedly waiting for a formal debrief once the delegation touches down back home
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