A new era for Bafana Bafana is about to be ushered in following the departure of Hugo Broos after a five-year tenure at the helm of the national side.
The Belgian left as the longest-serving Bafana coach with 61 matches under his belt, surpassing the late Clive Barker’s record of four years in charge. SAFA are expected to name Broos’ successor on Saturday, with Pitso Mosimane a frontrunner for the role.
Mosimane has previously coached South Africa in an unsuccessful stint between 2010 and 1012.
FARPost takes a look at life after Broos and what the new man in charge of Bafana faces when he assumes the biggest coaching job in South African football.
JUST OVER A MONTH TO PREPARE FOR THE FIRST MATCH IN AFCON QUALIFIERS
Ideally, the new national team coach should have been announced soon after the 2026 FIFA World Cup exit at the end of June. But there was confusion around the future of Broos, who had initially said he would step down after the World Cup.
However, the Belgian appeared to be making a mid-air somersault when he told players that they would meet again in September when the 2027 AFCON qualifiers start. SAFA was also hinting at the prospect of Broos continuing in his role, while Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie also wanted the veteran coach to stay.
Now, it has taken over a month after Bafana exited the World Cup before the announcement of the new Bafana coach. That is time lost, and that period could have been used by the new coach to start planning for the upcoming assignments.
However, whoever is appointed will get down to serious business ahead of the team’s first AFCON qualifier against Guinea at home on September 23.
MORE THAN JUST 2027 AFCON QUALIFIERS FOR BAFANA
The new coach knows that just qualifying for AFCON and the World Cup is not enough. Barker set the bar high by inspiring Bafana to be crowned African champions in 1996, a feat that many other coaches have failed to replicate.
The late coach also helped the team earn their maiden qualification for the global football tournament, although he left his role before the 1998 World Cup. Carlos Queiroz also helped Bafana book a place at the 2002 World Cup.
Broos then led Bafana to an AFCON bronze medal at the 2023 edition, before making history by guiding South Africa to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever. That means the new coach not only has to match Barker by conquering the continent, but at least reach the World Cup Last 16.
CRUCIAL FOUR MATCHES IN 2026 FOR THE BAFANA COACH
After Bafana host Guinea, they then face Eritrea away on September 27 in Group D of the AFCON qualifiers. In a calendar that has no international football in October, South Africa then host Benni McCarthy’s Kenya on November 11.
Four days later, they meet Kenya away from home to conclude the 2026 business, with the incoming Bafana coach hoping to steer his team to a good position before the qualifiers resume in March 2027.
OPPOSITION RANKED BELOW SOUTH AFRICA
Football is a game laden with so many upsets, which make the game exciting. That makes FIFA World Rankings something not to read much into sometimes.
In their AFCON qualifying group, Bafana are the highest-ranked team at number 54. Guinea are 27 places below at position 81.
Kenya and Eritrea are outside the top 100, sitting in the 109th spot and 184th, respectively. But the new South Africa coach would be well aware that rankings can deceive.
A SQUAD OF PLAYERS IN THEIR PRIME
The Bafana coach inherits a squad of players, most of whom are at the peak of their careers and are young. The likes of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Thapelo Maseko, Samukele Kabini, Olwethu Makhanya and Ime Okon are all in their early 20s.
That gives the new coach somewhere to start from and build on without having to refresh his squad much. But he will begin without the luxury of defensive rock Mbokazi, who is ruled out for the rest of 2026 with injury.
Another centre-back, Siyabonga Ngezana, as well as Nkota, are doubtful for the September assignments after undergoing surgery during the off-season break.
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