SAFA has cleared the air around the future of Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, dismissing reports that he has left his role as “completely false.”
The Belgian had initially indicated that he would vacate his post at the helm of the national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup to retire from coaching. However, he appears to have made a U-turn, stating that he will now take time to decide on his future with the team.
He also hinted at taking up another role at SAFA, while the association’s boss, Danny Jordaan, has also intimated that the former Cameroon coach is not leaving.
That has fuelled speculation that Broos will be in charge when Bafana kick off their 2027 AFCON qualifiers in September. With the qualifiers for Africa’s flagship competition fast approaching, the local football governing body has been pressed to finalise the technical team that will guide the national side.
The 74-year-old Broos has been in charge of South Africa since May 2021 and helped the team claim bronze at the 2023 AFCON tournament. But they regressed when their campaign at the 2025 edition of the continental competition ended in the Last 16.
However, Broos managed to atone for that by inspiring the national team to reach the World Cup Round of 32, the first time for South Africa to progress past the group stage at the global football showpiece.
SAFA BOLD THAT ‘HUGO BROOS REMAINS AS BAFANA BAFANA HEAD COACH’
SAFA had also indicated that they have begun the process of selecting Broos’ successor. Over 80 coaches are said to have applied for the Bafana job. South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie had publicly backed Pitso Mosimane to take over from Broos.
FARPost understands that Mosimane is one of the coaches who have submitted their CVs, but SAFA has come out to pour cold water on reports that emerged from Belgium that Broos’ time with the 1996 African champions has ended.
“The South African Football Association [SAFA] has dismissed claims that mentor Hugo Broos has left his role as the head coach of the South African senior men’s national team,” SAFA said in a statement on Friday.
“Broos remains as the head coach of Bafana Bafana and reports claiming the contrary are completely false. It is not the first time that the Belgian mentor is being linked to an exit shortly after the South African senior men’s national team has performed well at an international tournament.
“In March 2024, Broos was said to be joining the Tunisian national team a few weeks after Bafana Bafana had won bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“Broos returned with the team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup a few days ago after making history in the global showpiece currently underway in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
“Bafana Bafana qualified for the second round of the tournament for the first time ever after beating South Korea 1-0 in the last group match in Monterrey, Mexico. The coach is currently at home in Belgium and will return to South Africa later this month.”
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