SAFA chief Lydia Monyepao prioritizes World Cup preparation over Hugo Broos’ future

Lydia Monyepao, CEO of the South African Football Association (SAFA), has signaled a clear focus on the upcoming FIFA World Cup, diverging from President Danny Jordaan’s comments regarding the future of coach Hugo Broos with the South Africa men’s national football team.

While Jordaan recently suggested that SAFA are eager to discuss Broos’ continuation as Bafana Bafana coach beyond the World Cup in the USA this June, Monyepao emphasized that the association’s priority remains the tournament itself.

“Our focus right now as an association is about the World Cup as far as Bafana are concerned, so we are not really thinking beyond July 2026 because I think that will impact the preparation for our players and technical team,” Monyepao explained.

“We are not trying to think about whether coach Hugo Broos is staying or not, but our main focus is to ensure we prepare our team for the tournament adequately.”

As part of the final preparations, Bafana Bafana will take on Panama in two friendly matches later this month at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Bafana Bafana are paired in Group A alongside South Korea, Mexico and an European country yet to be determined in the playoff.