SAFA bids farewell to Hugo Broos after five-year Bafana Bafana revival

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has officially bid farewell to Hugo Broos after the Belgian coach’s five-year contract with Bafana Bafana came to an end.

SAFA confirmed that Broos has vacated his position as national team coach, bringing to a close a successful tenure that saw South Africa achieve some of its biggest milestones in recent years.

The 74-year-old was appointed in May 2021 and took charge of a rebuilding project aimed at restoring Bafana Bafana’s competitiveness on the African stage.

SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan expressed appreciation for Broos’ contribution, thanking the veteran coach for his dedication and the progress made during his time with the national team.

Broos leaves after rewriting Bafana Bafana history

During his time in charge, Broos guided Bafana Bafana to a bronze medal finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, one of the country’s strongest performances in the competition in recent years.

The Belgian also achieved a historic feat by becoming the first coach to lead South Africa into the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.

Bafana Bafana had previously failed to progress beyond the group stage in three World Cup appearances, in 1998, 2002 and 2010, before Broos helped end that record.

His tenure was marked by improved performances, greater tactical discipline and renewed confidence within the national team setup.

A record built on consistency

Broos leaves Bafana Bafana after managing 60 official matches, recording 29 wins, 19 draws and 12 defeats.

Under his leadership, South Africa scored 92 goals and conceded 62, reflecting the team’s improvement in the final third while maintaining defensive stability.

Beyond the numbers, Broos’ biggest contribution was restoring belief around Bafana Bafana and helping the team compete more consistently against Africa’s leading football nations.

With his departure now confirmed, SAFA will begin the process of identifying a successor tasked with building on the foundation established during Broos’ five-year reign.