Pitso Mosimane poised for Bafana Bafana return as 2027 qualifiers loom

Pitso Mosimane is expected to be announced as the new Bafana Bafana coach this week, returning to lead South Africa’s national team more than a decade after his previous spell in charge.

The South African Football Association (Safa) is preparing to confirm Mosimane’s appointment as the team begins preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Mosimane, who previously managed Bafana Bafana from 2010 to 2012, is set to take over at a crucial stage. His return immediately raises the question of whether he can take the national side to the next level and build on his earlier experience with the team.

There will be little opportunity for a long adjustment period. Bafana Bafana are due to face Guinea and Eritrea in important Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month, meaning Mosimane will have to move quickly once his appointment is formally announced.

The coach has already begun work behind the scenes while negotiations with Safa have continued. He has been carrying out scouting duties alongside his trusted lieutenants, Kabelo Rangoaga and Musi Matlaba.

That preparation is expected to continue into the selection process. Mosimane is likely to name his preliminary squad when he is officially unveiled as the new Bafana Bafana coach.

His return would mark a new chapter in his relationship with the national team. Mosimane previously held the position between 2010 and 2012, and his expected appointment would bring him back into the role after more than 10 years away.

The timing of the change means the immediate focus will be on the upcoming fixtures rather than a lengthy rebuilding process. The matches against Guinea and Eritrea will provide Mosimane with his first significant opportunity to shape the team during the latest phase of his international career.

Safa is expected to make the announcement this week, after which attention will turn to Mosimane’s formal unveiling and the publication of his preliminary squad.

For Bafana Bafana, the appointment would combine a familiar figure with the demands of a fresh qualifying campaign. Mosimane’s first task will be to prepare the side for the two matches next month as South Africa begins its route towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The developments were reported by TimesLIVE.