​Candidates, including Pitso Mosimane, have put their names forward to succeed Hugo Broos as South Africa’s national team coach following the confirmation of the Belgian’s departure, a South African Football Association official told AFP on Friday. The insider, who asked to remain anonymous as he is not an official spokesperson, indicated that Broos may continue with the national team in a different role. “Hugo may continue to work with the national team, but in a different capacity,” he said.
There have been numerous applications for the post of national coach, and Pitso Mosimane is among those in the running. Broos himself spoke to Belgian magazine Humo, saying, “I have already had a conversation with the chairman of the South African Football Federation (Danny Jordaan).” He added that Jordaan would like to retain him in a different capacity—perhaps as an advisor—and that he planned to return at the end of July to say his final goodbyes. “I am curious to see what he will propose. My wife is happy that I am quitting, but she has already warned me: ‘Just make sure you do not get in my way.’”
Broos said he would be willing to stay in South Africa for a period, even if it meant spending a few weeks there every couple of months, reasoning, “Why not? Better that than walking around at home being a nuisance because I have nothing to do.” He confirmed to Belgian media that he had decided several months ago to retire after South Africa’s exit from qualification for the 2026 World Cup. South Africa had finished as runners-up to co-hosts Mexico in Group A, advancing to the knockout stage for the first time, but were eliminated by Canada in the round of 32.
In an AFP interview prior to the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Broos explained that he wished to devote more time to his family, saying, “I am 74 years old; I cannot continue to spend every day of every week concentrating solely on football.” His impact on South African football has been widely recognized. Under his leadership, Bafana Bafana, who had once drawn crowds of about 200 spectators, now regularly play in front of capacity crowds of around 50,000 at Cape Town’s stadium. He also steered the team to a third-place finish at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast—their best result since the same position at the 2000 tournament in Nigeria and Ghana.
Mosimane’s coaching history with South Africa includes a two-year spell from 2010, after which he was dismissed following a home draw with Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. He subsequently spent eight seasons with Mamelodi Sundowns, transforming the Pretoria club into a dominant force in South African football and eclipsing former giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. His most notable achievement with Sundowns came in 2016, when he led them to victory in the CAF Champions League, Africa’s premier club competition. Mosimane later became the first Sub-Saharan African to coach Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, taking charge in 2020 and guiding the club to three consecutive CAF Champions League finals, securing two titles along the way.
As the federation contemplates its next steps, Mosimane’s candidacy remains a focal point of discussion among fans and pundits alike, given his track record of success at both club and national levels. The search for a new national coach continues, with a growing field of applicants hoping to steer South Africa toward sustained success on the continental and global stages.