Hugo Broos to leave Bafana Bafana as SAFA prepares to appoint new head coach

Hugo Broos’ tenure as Bafana Bafana head coach will come to an end on Friday when his South African Football Association (SAFA) contract expires, clearing the way for a new appointment before the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.

Broos, 74, will depart having served the full term of the deal he signed in May 2021 and will return to his native Belgium after formally saying his goodbyes at the end of the week.

During his spell in charge, the Belgian guided Bafana Bafana to the knockout stages at every major tournament for which he successfully qualified with the senior national team, and leaves the side at their highest Fifa world ranking since he took over.

No agreement on short-term extension

It is understood Broos was open to remaining in the role until after the next AFCON finals, with discussions between the coach and SAFA exploring the possibility of a one-year extension.

Those talks, which continued as late as Thursday morning, did not produce a unified position within SAFA’s leadership on keeping Broos on for an additional year, and confirmation of his departure followed soon after.

The outspoken coach will therefore conclude his duties when his existing contract runs out on Friday, bringing to a close the tenure of Bafana Bafana’s longest-serving coach in the modern era.

Search begins for successor

Broos’ exit opens the door for SAFA to move ahead with the recruitment of a new head coach, a position that has already attracted high-profile interest.

Pitso Mosimane, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly manager, and France’s Herve Renard, a two-time AFCON-winning coach, are among those who have been linked with the role and are understood to be keen on leading Bafana Bafana.

SAFA has yet to announce a timeline or shortlist for the appointment, but the federation faces a tight turnaround with crucial competitive fixtures on the horizon.

AFCON 2027 qualifiers on the horizon

The new coach’s first major task will be guiding South Africa through qualification for the 2027 AFCON, with the campaign scheduled to begin in the September/October FIFA international window.

Bafana Bafana have been drawn in Group D alongside Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea, in a qualifying phase that will run until March next year.

The 2027 AFCON finals are set to take place from 19 June to 17 July in a three-nation East African hosting arrangement shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

With Broos departing on the back of improved tournament performances and an upward shift in the rankings, his successor will inherit a team that has regained competitiveness on the continental stage but faces immediate pressure to secure qualification and maintain that momentum.