Pitso Mosimane approved as South Africa coach by SAFA

Pitso Mosimane is set to return as South Africa head coach after the South African Football Association’s National Executive Committee approved his appointment to replace Hugo Broos.

The 61-year-old, who previously managed both Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, has been out of club management since leaving Iranian side Esteghlal FC in January 2025.

Mosimane’s return to the Bafana Bafana dugout still needs to be formally confirmed, with SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan saying there were “loose ends” to resolve after Saturday’s extraordinary NEC meeting.

“The NEC has approved the appointment of coach Pitso to Bafana Bafana, but we still need to tie up some loose ends. We will make a formal announcement of the coach next week.”

The decision marks a return to the national team for Mosimane, who first took charge of South Africa after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He signed a four-year contract but was dismissed after the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

SAFA confirmed the decision in a statement following the meeting at SAFA House on Saturday, 8 August 2026.

“The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Executive Committee has approved the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana coach,” SAFA stated.

“SAFA held a successful NEC Extraordinary Meeting at SAFA House on Saturday, 8 August 2026 and the Members backed Mosimane to return to the South African senior men’s national and replace Hugo Broos, who stepped down a few days ago.”

The wording of SAFA’s statement indicates that Mosimane has been selected to succeed Broos, who left his position only a few days before the NEC meeting. However, Jordaan’s comments mean the appointment has not yet been presented as fully completed, with a formal announcement expected next week.

Mosimane had recently been focusing on his own football project, the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football side. He bought the status of a Gauteng Development League team as part of that work.

His appointment will now take him back into senior international management, after a period away from the touchline following his departure from Esteghlal FC.

Mosimane’s coaching career with the national side began in the aftermath of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Before and during his early involvement with Bafana Bafana, he also worked as an assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira and Joel Santana.

He subsequently became South Africa’s head coach for the first time, but his spell ended when the team failed to reach the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. His approved return represents a second spell in charge of the country’s senior men’s national team, subject to SAFA completing the remaining formalities.