Pitso Mosimane set for Bafana Bafana return as Safa approve appointment

Pitso Mosimane has agreed in principle to become the new Bafana Bafana coach, with the South African Football Association (Safa) and his representatives due to hold crucial talks over personal terms in the coming days.

Safa’s national executive committee (NEC) approved Mosimane’s appointment on Wednesday, but an agreement still needs to be reached before the former coach can formally succeed Hugo Broos.

Broos’s contract expired last month after five successful years in charge. Mosimane has indicated that he is willing to take over, although negotiations over his salary package have so far failed to produce common ground.

Safa is hoping to unveil the new coach this week. Mosimane’s representatives are understood to be seeking a package similar to the one received by Broos, who was believed to have earned more than R1m a month, in addition to substantial benefits including accommodation.

The make-up of Mosimane’s technical team is also expected to feature prominently in the discussions. The coach has traditionally worked alongside a group of trusted assistants and specialists, including fitness, strength and conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga and performance analyst Musi Matlaba.

Rangoaga and Matlaba have worked with Mosimane since his early days at Mamelodi Sundowns. There are unlikely to be major obstacles over those positions, however, because Broos’s fitness trainer Kopano Melesi and performance analyst Sinesipho Mali have already left their roles.

The wider backroom structure will also need to be settled. Support staff are regarded as particularly important at international level because of their role in helping both the players and the head coach.

Time is becoming a significant factor, with Bafana Bafana scheduled to begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Guinea next month. After hosting Guinea, South Africa will travel to Eritrea before completing the year with successive fixtures against Kenya, whose team is coached by former South African striker Benni McCarthy.

Bafana Bafana will be without Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi for all four matches. The MLS player has been ruled out for the rest of the year because of a serious injury.

Should Mosimane take charge, his approach to squad selection will be closely watched. He would inherit a team that Broos left with a combination of experienced internationals and promising young players.

The senior members of the squad expected to provide leadership at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania include Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khuliso Mudau, Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Oswin Appollis, Evidence Makgopa and Lyle Foster.

There is also a sizeable group of younger players who have offered signs of their ability, including Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Tylon Smith, Tshepang Moremi, Shandre Campbell, Relebohile Mofokeng and Thapelo Maseko.

Mosimane is likely to introduce some players of his own choosing if he returns, although the number and identity of any changes remain unclear.

For Safa president Danny Jordaan, completing the appointment in an orderly and professional manner is important as he seeks to strengthen his standing with the Football Transformation Forum (FTF) group. The organisation was overwhelmingly in favour of Mosimane taking charge.

Jordaan confirmed after the NEC meeting that the process was still not finished. “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,” he said in a statement.

Bafana Bafana are coming off a 2026 Fifa World Cup campaign in North America in which they reached the knockout stages for the first time. Their immediate priority is now qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Progress under Broos has created a belief in South Africa that the side can challenge to win the tournament and establish itself among the leading teams on the continent.

Mosimane has previously held the Bafana Bafana job. He served as an assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, when South Africa failed to progress from the group stage on home soil.

He then became head coach between 2010 and 2012, before being dismissed after the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Mosimane is among Africa’s most decorated coaches, having won almost 20 major trophies. His honours include three Caf Champions League titles and five league championships with Mamelodi Sundowns.

He has also claimed two bronze medals at the Fifa Club World Cup with Egyptian giants Al Ahly. His other coaching roles have included Al-Ahli Saudi, Abha Club of Saudi Arabia, Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates and Esteghlal FC of Iran.

The accompanying story audio was generated using AI.