Danny Jordaan tells fans to ‘wait’ as Safa denies Hugo Broos contract extension

South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan has dismissed claims that Hugo Broos has agreed a new one-year deal as Bafana Bafana head coach, insisting no decision has yet been taken on the Belgian’s future.

Broos’ contract is due to expire at the end of this month, with the 74-year-old having previously indicated he planned to retire from coaching after the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

The veteran coach led Bafana Bafana to a landmark World Cup campaign in North America, steering South Africa into the knockout stages for the first time before they were eliminated in the Round of 32.

Despite that achievement, uncertainty continues to surround his position, amid reports that Safa is considering offering him a short-term extension to take the national team to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for June and July in East Africa.

Jordaan rejects ‘nonsense’ reports

Speaking in Sandton, Johannesburg, at the launch of Pitso Mosimane’s Youth Football: Coaching Manual, Jordaan was pressed by reporters on Broos’ status and the suggestion of a one-year extension.

Referring to Safa’s statement released on Wednesday, he strongly denied that any agreement had been signed.

“There is no such thing as Safa signing a one-year contract with Broos. It doesn’t exist. It’s nonsense,” Jordaan said.

“And it’s better that this nonsense is not put out there. I just came back [from the World Cup] yesterday [Wednesday] and I saw. What is this now? It’s nonsense.”

When asked directly whether Bafana Bafana currently had a head coach, Jordaan replied: “Ja, we have a coach.”

But when pushed to name that coach, he declined, stressing that any decision would have to come through Safa’s established structures.

‘You cannot hijack a decision’

Jordaan underlined that the federation’s internal procedures would determine who leads Bafana Bafana, rather than external pressure.

“No, we will deal with that. There is a process. The technical committee makes a recommendation to the [Safa] national executive [NEC]. The NEC finally decides on the coach,” he explained.

“So you cannot stop me in the street and hijack a decision. It’s not going to happen.”

The exchange grew increasingly tense as a journalist repeatedly asked for clarity, arguing that the public deserved to be informed.

“We are not hijacking a decision, Dr Jordaan. I think South Africa deserves to know where we stand right now,” the journalist said.

Jordaan, however, insisted that the timing had to be respected, given the World Cup had just concluded.

“No, no, South Africa must wait. South Africa must understand the World Cup ended just yesterday,” he responded.

He later added: “You are out of order and you must behave yourself,” before bringing the interview to an abrupt close.

Mosimane linked as succession talks continue

The uncertainty over Broos’ future comes as Pitso Mosimane has emerged as one of the leading names linked to the Bafana Bafana job, should Safa opt for a change.

Mosimane, a former Bafana Bafana, SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach, confirmed at his book launch that he had been contacted by Safa as part of wider discussions about a possible succession plan.

He made clear, though, that no decision had been taken on Broos’ position and that his own involvement was at the level of exploratory talks rather than a formal offer.

For now, Safa’s official line is that the process to determine the national team’s direction is ongoing. The federation is expected to decide in the coming period whether to retain Broos, potentially on a short-term basis, or to turn to a new coach such as Mosimane after South Africa’s historic World Cup run in North America.