Mosimane faces ‘completely different’ Bafana Bafana challenge, says Johnson

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson says Pitso Mosimane will face a significantly different challenge when he begins his second spell as head coach of Bafana Bafana.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed Mosimane’s reappointment on Tuesday during a press conference at SAFA House, where he was named as the successor to Hugo Broos.

Mosimane previously led South Africa between 2010 and 2012, although Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during that period. The 61-year-old now returns to the national team after gaining extensive experience with clubs including Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly.

Johnson, who has also managed Platinum Stars and SuperSport United, believes Mosimane’s past experience will be useful but stressed that the circumstances have changed considerably since his first stint in charge.

“I wish him (Mosimane) good luck, that’s all. It’s a new chapter in his life, he was there before, all I can say is wish him good luck, because it’s a completely different kettle of fish he is going to be involved with now,” Johnson told KickOff.

The former Kaizer Chiefs coach pointed to changes within the national team setup, including the personnel available to Mosimane.

“It has changed, there’s new people, new players, so it’s a new chapter as far as he is concerned as a coach, his experience will help him. All I can say is I wish him good luck.”

Mosimane takes over after Broos delivered a successful period with Bafana Bafana. Under the Belgian, South Africa qualified for consecutive AFCON tournaments and secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Johnson believes Mosimane’s immediate priority will be to ensure Bafana Bafana reach the 2027 AFCON, while also deciding how much of Broos’ World Cup-qualified squad he wants to retain.

“The challenge is simple, they’ve been to the World Cup, is he going to take some of those players back? His first appointment is to qualify for the 2027 AFCON, he has not got a lot of time,” Johnson said.

Mosimane is expected to lead the team in a match at the end of the month, leaving him with limited time to assess his squad and prepare for his return to international management.

Johnson said Mosimane may already have been considering different approaches before taking the role, but added that the demands of the job would only become fully clear once he was officially in charge.

“I think he plays at the end of the month. He has probably been looking at different angles on how to approach it but you only really get into the business when you are in the job, so all I can say is good luck Pitso Mosimane, I wish you all the best,” Johnson added.