Hugo Broos retires after leading South Africa to World Cup knockout stage

Hugo Broos has ended his time as South Africa manager and will retire after deciding not to renew his contract with the South African Football Association (Safa).

The Belgian leaves his post after almost five years in charge of Bafana Bafana, a period in which he helped transform the fortunes of the senior national team.

Broos is widely credited with guiding South Africa from a side regarded as having little chance of success to one that qualified for successive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

His final period in charge also included a landmark achievement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where South Africa reached the knockout stages for the first time.

Broos confirmed his departure during a farewell news conference at Safa House on Friday afternoon. In reflecting on his time with the team, he said the relationship he developed with the players had made the past five years particularly rewarding.

“These have been wonderful years for me,” Broos said, while explaining that his decision was also influenced by the amount of time he had spent away from home and his family.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, but Broos will not lead Bafana Bafana into that tournament. His decision brings to an end a tenure that saw South Africa return to greater prominence in African football.

Broos said he hoped the national team would continue to progress after his departure and urged those involved to ensure the players kept developing.

“I hope things will go well for Bafana, and the necessary steps will be taken to make sure that players become even better. I wish my successor all the best going forward, and I want to thank Safa president Danny Jordaan and the rest of the Safa staff and the minister of sport Gayton McKenzie for his enthusiastic support.”

The coach also paid tribute to Safa president Danny Jordaan, the association’s staff and South Africa’s minister of sport, Gayton McKenzie, for their support during his time in charge.

His departure leaves Safa needing to appoint a successor ahead of the next stage of the national team’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Broos’ tenure has therefore concluded with South Africa having secured qualification for two consecutive Afcon competitions and reached the knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was a significant turnaround for a team whose prospects had been viewed far less positively before his arrival.

After nearly five years at the coaching helm, Broos now steps away from international management and begins his retirement, having formally bid farewell to both Bafana Bafana and South Africa.