Danny Jordaan bristles over questions on Hugo Broos’s Bafana future at book launch

South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan angrily dismissed reports of a new one-year deal for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, during a tense exchange with a television reporter at a media event in Johannesburg.

Jordaan, speaking on Thursday at the launch of Pitso Mosimane’s Youth Football: Coaching Manual in Sandton, insisted no contract extension had been signed with the 74-year-old Belgian, whose current Bafana Bafana deal expires this month.

“There is no such thing as Safa signing a one-year contract with Broos. It doesn’t exist. It’s nonsense,” Jordaan said, echoing a Safa statement released on Wednesday that rejected claims of an agreed short-term renewal.

“And it’s better that this nonsense is not put out there. I just came back [from the World Cup] yesterday [Wednesday] and I saw. What is this now? It’s nonsense.”

The confrontation unfolded in a media “huddle” when an eNCA journalist pressed Jordaan on Broos’s position following Bafana’s elimination in the last 32 of the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America last month.

Broos had previously stated he planned to retire from coaching after leading South Africa at that tournament, but both he and Safa have recently signalled they might be open to extending his tenure until next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, set for June and July in East Africa.

Jordaan clashes with reporter over “hijack” claim

Questions over whether Bafana Bafana effectively have a coach in place for upcoming competitions appeared to irritate Jordaan, who bristled when the journalist sought clarity.

After the reporter asked, “So do we have a coach?”, Jordaan replied: “Ja, we have a coach.”

When the follow-up question came “Who’s the coach?” Jordaan responded: “No, we will deal with that. There is a process. The technical committee makes a recommendation to the [Safa] national executive [NEC].

“The NEC finally decides on the coach. So you cannot stop me in the street and hijack a decision. It’s not going to happen.”

The journalist countered: “We are not hijacking a decision, Dr Jordaan. I think South Africa deserves to know where we stand right now.”

Jordaan replied: “No, no, South Africa must wait. South Africa must understand the World Cup ended just yesterday.”

As the reporter continued to seek a clearer answer, the Safa president cut him off.

“OK, you have your answer then. Why are you asking me? Don’t interrupt when I am talking.

“No, no, you are out of order and you must behave yourself,” he added.

When the journalist reiterated that the media were “just asking a question”, Jordaan said: “No, you must ask your question. We are having processes and things that must happen. So you must wait.”

He then brought the exchange to a close and walked away.

Uncertain future for Broos as Mosimane interest grows

The public row highlighted the uncertainty around the Bafana Bafana job in the wake of the World Cup campaign.

Broos’s contract runs out this month, and although both parties have hinted they could look at an arrangement taking him through to the Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa next year, Safa has given no indication of a final decision or timeline.

At the same event, Pitso Mosimane the former Bafana Bafana, SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach reaffirmed that he is interested in returning to the national team role and confirmed he has held talks with Safa.

Mosimane has been widely reported as one of the leading contenders should Safa decide not to continue with Broos.

For now, Jordaan insists the matter will be handled internally via Safa’s structures, with the technical committee tasked with making a recommendation to the national executive committee, which will take the final call on who leads Bafana Bafana into their next cycle.