Pitso Mosimane sets long-term vision as he begins second Bafana Bafana spell

New Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane says his plans for South Africa extend beyond qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup, as he targets a sustainable football structure for the national team.

Mosimane was officially unveiled by the South African Football Association (SAFA) at SAFA House on Tuesday, returning for his second permanent spell in charge of the senior men’s side.

He succeeds Hugo Broos, who led Bafana Bafana for five years before agreeing to a further one-year renewal. Broos guided South Africa to a bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON and took the team to the Last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier this year.

Mosimane, who will oversee South Africa’s AFCON qualifying campaign when it begins later this month, is expected to match or improve on those achievements.

Rather than starting again, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach said he wanted to retain the progress made under Broos and continue developing the team’s identity.

“I want to package Hugo Broos, his technical team and the players that have travelled the journey,” Mosimane said during his unveiling.

“The team has set a new benchmark for Bafana, and we know where the benchmark is. My responsibility is to build on that foundation, take the forward and raise the stars further.

“When I presented my vision to SAFA, it went beyond the next match; it went beyond the FIFA window because the national window cannot switch on when the camp opens and switch off when the players go back to their clubs “

Mosimane said the national team needed a more continuous approach to player development, including closer monitoring of younger players and improved technical support.

“We need to know our players, and we need to track our players in the 23s, when to feed and unearth talent. We need the right technical support teams for a clear football identity. Those are the most important things we need. This is how we compete for what is in front of us while we build for something that can sustain youth African football

The coach emphasised that tournament results remained important, but should form part of a broader plan for South African football.

“AFCON matters, the World Cup matters, very important, but our responsibility goes beyond any one tournament,” the coach said.

“South Africa belongs among the best in Africa and around the world.

“Wearing a Bafana jersey is earned, and it’s a culture.”

The appointment is believed to be on a four-year deal, although Mosimane faces an immediate test with little time to settle into the role.

His first competitive fixtures are less than a month away, when South Africa begin the opening rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Bafana Bafana have been drawn to face Guinea and Eritrea in important back-to-back group matches.

Those games will provide Mosimane with his first opportunity to put his plans into practice, while also beginning the process of building on the platform established during Broos’ tenure.