South Africa face race against time to appoint new Bafana Bafana head coach

South Africa’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have entered a critical phase, with only 29 days remaining before Bafana Bafana begin their campaign and the national team still without a confirmed head coach.

The position became vacant after Hugo Broos left at the end of his five-year contract. The 74-year-old Belgian chose not to renew his agreement, a decision that had been widely anticipated, but the South African Football Association (SAFA) now appears to be under-prepared with the opening qualifier fast approaching.

SAFA’s National Executive Committee has approved Pitso Mosimane as its preferred candidate and he is regarded as the clear frontrunner to replace Broos. However, the association has yet to formally announce his appointment.

Talks are understood to have stalled over Mosimane’s wish to bring in his own technical team. The former Bafana Bafana coach is also reported to be unhappy with the salary package currently on offer.

Bafana Bafana are scheduled to open their Group D qualifying campaign on Wednesday, 23 September, when they host Guinea in a crucial Matchday 1 fixture. The venue for that match has not yet been confirmed, although it will take place in South Africa.

The timetable leaves little room for a new coach and his staff to settle in. Four days after facing Guinea, South Africa will travel to play Eritrea on 27 September 2026. That match will be staged in Egypt because stadium compliance bans prevent Eritrea from hosting the fixture in Asmara.

South Africa’s qualifying programme will then continue during the November 2026 international window, when they face a demanding double-header against co-hosts Kenya.

The campaign is due to conclude in March 2027, with Bafana Bafana travelling to Guinea before hosting Eritrea in their final fixture.

SAFA must now complete the appointment and associated paperwork before the players assemble for national camp on 20 September. That would leave the incoming head coach and technical team with only three days of training to prepare the squad for the physical challenge expected from Guinea.

The lack of certainty has increased pressure on the football association, with the opening match less than a month away and key discussions over the coaching structure and remuneration package still unresolved. Although Mosimane remains the leading candidate, no agreement has yet been confirmed, leaving South Africa’s preparations for a demanding qualifying schedule in a vulnerable position.