The King Returns: Mosimane Takes Bafana Reins After Broos Exit
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana head coach.
Mosimane returns to the national team for his second stint, having previously led the side from 2010 to 2012. Since then, he has built a stellar managerial reputation, winning three CAF Champions League titles—once with Mamelodi Sundowns and twice with Egypt’s Al Ahly.
He succeeds Hugo Broos, who stepped down after making history by leading Bafana Bafana to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mosimane, who has long expressed his desire to return to the national job and win the Africa Cup of Nations, will get his chance in AFCON 2027, with the qualifying campaign kicking off next month.
SAFA, after the NEC meeting, said in a statement on Saturday:
The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Executive Committee has approved the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana coach.
SAFA held a successful NEC Extraordinary Meeting at SAFA House on Saturday, 8 August 2026 and the Members backed Mosimane to return to the South African senior men’s national and replace Hugo Broos, who stepped down a few days ago.
“The NEC has approved the appointment of coach Pitso to Bafana Bafana, but we still need to tie up some loose ends. We will make a formal announcement of the coach next week,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan following the NEC Extraordinary Meeting.
Bafana Bafana are riding the crest of a wave after returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup a few weeks ago. The team also qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years and made history at the 2026 global showpiece when the country qualified for the second round of the tournament for the first time ever after beating South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey, Mexico, courtesy of a lone strike from Thapelo Maseko.
The discussions at the NEC Extraordinary Meeting were robust and engaging, and Dr Jordaan, who chaired the proceedings, said the Members engaged all the items vigorously as they always do.
The NEC was also told about the preparations for next month’s SAFA Elective Congress, which will be held on 12 September 2026. The nominations for various positions that will be contested at the SAFA Elective Congress next month were handed over to the Governance Committee this week. SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao handed over the files to Governance Committee members Victor Mogajane (chairman), Tumi Dlamini, Abel Ramolotja, Shakespeare Hadebe and Anzel Laubscher at SAFA House in the presence of members of the media.
Dr Jordaan wished Sasol Banyana Banyana well ahead of their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) quarterfinal against Morocco on Saturday, 8 August 2028. Banyana Banyana are just one match away from securing their spot at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup which will take place in Brazil.
The South African senior women’s national team face WAFCON hosts Morocco at the Moulay el Hassan Stadium in Rabat where the winner will book their tickets to South America. Kickoff at 22h00 SA Time.
“Tomorrow is Women’s Day, we are also wishing them a day filled with endless success and happiness.”
