Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has informed members of his squad and technical team that he will not extend his contract, bringing the curtain down on a memorable five-year spell in charge of the national team.
Broos, who flew into South Africa last week to attend Jayden Adamsโ burial, met with his technical team in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, where uncertainty over his future was finally put to rest.
The Belgian mentor has been candid since late last year about his desire to retire from coaching. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he revealed in several media interviews that, after a long and distinguished career spanning Europe and Africa, he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Despite recent denials by SAFA, FARPost can confirm that SAFA offered Broos a contract extension that would have kept him in charge through to the 2027 AFCON finals in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. However, the 73-year-old opted against signing the new deal. Bafana are next in action on 23 September against Guinea in the qualification campaign for Pamoja.
FARPost understands that several members of Broosโ backroom staff were also reluctant to continue with the national team setup. Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson, conditioning coach Kopano Melesi and team doctor Tshepo Molobi are among those whose futures remain uncertain. Head tactical and performance analyst Sinesipho Malih has already taken up a role at AmaZulu FC ahead of the new season.
BELOW IS THE TEXT OF HUGO BROOSโS MESSAGE TO BAFANA BAFANA
In an emotional farewell message shared with the team on their WhatsApp group, Broos mentioned the personal sacrifices he has made during his time in South Africa, particularly the extended periods spent away from his family. The veteran coach admitted that stepping away from the role was one of the toughest decisions of his career.
โDear guys, with pain in my heart, I will not extend my contract as coach of Bafana Bafana. My long absence from my family and the many lonely moments in South Africa have led me to make this difficult decision. We started five years ago a near-mission impossible. Through hard work, discipline, mentality and quality, our results kept getting better with a historical second round on WC 2026 a month ago. I want to thank you for believing in me as a coach, for the fantastic atmosphere you created in the team. Our relationship was more than a coach-player relationship; I will never forget you. Thank you for everything. Coach Hugo.โ
SAFA TO FINALISE NEW COACH APPOINTMENT
The message all but confirms Broosโ departure when his contract expires on 31 July, ending a transformative five-year spell in charge of Bafana Bafana. The 74-year-old inherited a national team at one of its lowest ebbs following Molefi Ntsekiโs tenure, with confidence in local football at an all-time low. The 2017 AFCON winner with Cameroon leaves having restored belief in the team and guided Bafana back among Africaโs leading nations.
Under Broos, South Africa qualified for two successive AFCON finals and secured a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 16-year absence from footballโs biggest stage since hosting the tournament in 2010. SAFA has called a press conference on Friday, where the association is expected to officially confirm his departure. Attention will now turn to finding a successor as Bafana begin preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
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