Pitso Mosimane targets Africa Cup of Nations trophy on return as Bafana Bafana coach

Pitso Mosimane says his main ambition after returning as South Africa head coach is to win the Africa Cup of Nations, rather than simply secure qualification for the tournament.

Mosimane begins his second spell in charge when Bafana Bafana face Guinea in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The three-time CAF Champions League-winning coach made clear that lifting the trophy, rather than reaching the finals, is the objective he has set since taking the job again.

“It’s been too long, right, so we need a cup, I want to win a cup. I’m not saying I’m going to win it, I want to win it, that’s why I’m here and I think the players want to win the cup, right?” Mosimane said at a pre-match press conference at Orlando Stadium.

“So if we don’t try to win the cup, what are we trying to do? To qualify again? Of course you can’t win the cup if you don’t qualify. You know the levels and steps that we need to do, to win the cup

“But ja, that’s the objective; to try and win a cup, maybe in five years right? (chuckles)”

South Africa are in Group D, with Eritrea their opponents in the second match. That game will be played in Egypt on Wednesday evening.

Mosimane, who has also managed Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, warned that Eritrea should not be judged solely by the country’s name or population because of where their players are based.

“You can see where the players of Eritrea are playing, so it’s not Eritrea as Eritrea. Cabo Verde was not Cabo Verde, with 700 000 population right? So where are all these players coming from? And why are they not in the (CAF) Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns?” he asked.

The coach said the qualifying campaign would not be straightforward and that his squad would need to work hard to overcome opponents determined to prevent them from taking points.

“It’s a very tricky thing, that is the life and that’s the situation. So it is not very easy. It’s not a joy-ride, it’s going to be tough, we know that they are not going to allow us to win. We have to push, we have to fight, we have to come, a lot of waves to try to break the ice and score.

“It’s our job and there’s no other way, unless you know, then I can take that way,” Mosimane added.