WAITING IN THE WINGS: Safa still to announce new Bafana Bafana coach as 2027 Afcon qualifiers loom

The South African Football Association is in a tight spot as it negotiates with Pitso Mosimane to succeed Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana boss. The federation has not moved quickly enough to find a successor for the Belgian, with the team set to begin African Cup of Nations qualification on 23 September.

Bafana Bafana are set to begin their quest to qualify for a third successive Africa Cup Nations (Afcon) tournament in just under a month.

The team’s quest to coompete in the 2027 Afcon (which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) begins in late September, with clashes against Guinea and Eritrea on 23 and 27 September respectively. They play Kenya in November.

Yet, following the departure of Belgian tactician Hugo Broos after a five-year stay in South Africa, the senior men’s national soccer side still does not formally have a coach.

The South African Football Association (Safa) knew for months before Broos’s departure that the 74-year-old would not stay on. Broos had expressed that at his age, being away from his Belgium-based family was not easy. He had stated clearly and concisely that the Bafana Bafana job would most likely be his last; as a head coach at least.

In fact, Jack Maluleke, chairperson of Safa’s technical committee, told journalists in May 2026 that the federation had begun the search for Broos’s successor.

“We have opened the process [to recruit a new coach]. If Hugo Broos has interest to continue, he will have to make a presentation [to Safa] to say, ‘I’m available.’ We won’t close that space. But we are aware that immediately after the World Cup, the team must proceed towards the future,” Maluleke said.

In July, reports circulated that Safa was trying to convince Broos to remain at the helm for another year after he had qualified Bafana Bafana for their first World Cup in 16 years.

The custodian of South African soccer vehemently denied this. “Safa has learnt with concern of reports and rumours being circulated by respected media houses alleging that Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has been offered or issued with a one-year contract extension. Safa wishes to categorically state that these reports are false, unfounded and misleading,” the federation said,

Then on 31 July, Broos officially bid farewell to South African soccer after fulfilling his mandate to restore pride to Bafana Bafana. Owing to multiple failures to qualify for major competitions, the team had become not just a joke globally and continentally, but even among South Africans. However, under Broos that tune changed tremendously. Perhaps that is why Safa was hoping to convince the Belgian to remain.

However, this has caused delays in the appointment of Broos’s successor and there remains uncertainty as to who will be on the Bafana Bafana bench when they begin their Afcon 2027 qualification journey.

Pitso Mosimane had long been heavily linked with the vacant post, and in August, Safa’s national executive committee (NEC) endorsed his appointment. He was one of a handful of candidates that Maluleke’s team had spoken to.

“The NEC has approved the appointment of coach Pitso to Bafana Bafana, but we still need to tie up some loose ends.