SAFA NEC approves Pitso Mosimane’s appointment as new Bafana coach
SAFA approves Pitso Mosimane as new Bafana coach after the South African Football Association’s National Executive Committee approved the appointment of the highly decorated coach during an Extraordinary Meeting on Saturday.
The decision places former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane in pole position to return to the Bafana Bafana hot seat, although the South African Football Association (SAFA) says some final details still need to be resolved before the appointment can be formally announced.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan confirmed that the NEC had approved Mosimane’s appointment, saying the association still needed to “tie up some loose ends”. A formal announcement is expected once those negotiations have been completed.
Pitso Mosimane returns to Bafana Bafana spotlight
The prospect of Mosimane returning as Bafana Bafana coach represents a major development for South African football.
Mosimane is one of the country’s most successful coaches, having built a reputation through domestic success with Mamelodi Sundowns before achieving further continental success with Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
His potential return comes at a crucial time for Bafana Bafana. The national team has just completed a significant World Cup cycle under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, whose five-year tenure ended after South Africa qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The national team now faces the challenge of maintaining momentum while preparing for another generation of international competitions.
The decision to approve Mosimane therefore carries considerable expectations among supporters who remember his previous achievements with the national team.
Why Mosimane is a popular choice
Mosimane’s coaching record makes him one of the most recognisable South African football managers.
His success at club level includes domestic trophies, continental honours and international experience. His achievements with Al Ahly particularly strengthened his reputation as a coach capable of competing at the highest level of African football.
He also has extensive knowledge of South African football, having worked with players, clubs and national-team structures over several years.
That combination of international experience and familiarity with the local game could prove valuable as Bafana attempt to build on their recent progress.
SAFA NEC approves the appointment
The SAFA NEC decision was taken at an Extraordinary Meeting at SAFA House on Saturday.
According to SAFA, the NEC approved the appointment but negotiations between the association and Mosimane still have to be finalised. This means the decision represents a significant step towards Mosimane taking charge, rather than the conclusion of the entire appointment process.
Jordaan’s comments suggest that the remaining discussions are largely administrative and contractual, although SAFA has not publicly disclosed all the details that still need to be resolved.
The association is expected to make a formal announcement after the outstanding matters have been concluded.
The process is also taking place against the backdrop of major developments within South African football administration.
Bafana Bafana coach faces major expectations
If the appointment is completed, Mosimane will inherit a Bafana Bafana side with considerable expectations surrounding it.
South Africa’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 provided the national team with an important platform and renewed confidence.
The challenge for the incoming coach will be turning that progress into sustained competitiveness.
Bafana supporters will expect the team to perform consistently in Africa while developing a squad capable of competing against the continent’s strongest nations.
Mosimane’s familiarity with high-pressure environments could be particularly important.
As a coach who has worked at clubs with demanding supporters and significant expectations, he understands the pressure associated with leading teams expected to win trophies.
Building the next generation
One of the major issues facing the next Bafana coach will be squad development.
South Africa has a mixture of experienced international players and younger footballers attempting to establish themselves at domestic and international level.
Mosimane could be expected to balance these groups while creating a clear tactical identity for the national team.
His knowledge of the domestic Premier Soccer League could also help SAFA identify emerging talent.
The development of young players will be particularly important if South Africa wants to remain competitive beyond the current World Cup cycle.
South African football enters another important phase
The proposed Mosimane appointment comes at a politically and administratively significant period for South African football.
SAFA is preparing for its upcoming Elective Congress, where leadership positions within the organisation will be contested.
Jordaan is expected to face AmaZulu owner Sandile Zungu in the race for SAFA’s presidency, while a new National Executive Committee will also be elected.
The timing means the football association is simultaneously dealing with coaching decisions, national-team planning and an important leadership contest.
The appointment of Bafana’s next coach will therefore be closely watched by clubs, supporters and football administrators.
SAFA governance and the coaching decision
The leadership transition could also influence the environment in which the new coach operates.
A national coach needs stability, clear objectives and strong institutional support to implement a long-term programme.
For Mosimane, if the appointment is finalised, cooperation between the technical team and SAFA’s leadership will be crucial.
The coach will need sufficient authority to make football decisions while working within the association’s broader national-team strategy.
What happens next?
The immediate priority is for SAFA and Mosimane to conclude their outstanding negotiations.
SAFA has already made its position clear by approving the appointment at NEC level. The next major step is the formal announcement once the remaining issues have been resolved.
Until that announcement is made, Mosimane should technically be described as the NEC-approved candidate rather than a formally installed Bafana Bafana coach.
That distinction is important because the final appointment depends on the conclusion of negotiations.
Once confirmed, attention will quickly shift to his technical plans.
Supporters will want to know which players he intends to build around, whether he will introduce new faces and what tactical approach he will use.
Mosimane’s second chance with Bafana?
A return to the national team would give Mosimane another opportunity to shape South African football at its highest level.
His previous involvement with Bafana gave him experience of the pressures surrounding the national team, while his subsequent club career exposed him to elite continental competition.
That experience could be valuable as South Africa attempts to strengthen its position in African football.
The decision also carries symbolic significance. Mosimane is a South African coach who has achieved major success both domestically and internationally, including becoming the first South African coach to graduate with a CAF Pro License. SAFA has previously highlighted his achievements and coaching qualifications.
For supporters, however, past achievements will ultimately matter less than future results.
What Mosimane’s appointment could mean
If the final negotiations succeed, SAFA approves Pitso Mosimane as new Bafana coach will become more than an administrative decision. It could mark the beginning of a new era for the national team.
Mosimane would inherit a squad coming off World Cup qualification and would be expected to maintain that upward trajectory.
The pressure will be significant, but so will the opportunity.
South Africa has the talent, infrastructure and growing international ambitions to establish itself as one of Africa’s leading football nations. The next Bafana coach will play a central role in determining whether those ambitions become reality.
For now, SAFA has taken the first major step by approving Mosimane’s appointment.
The remaining negotiations will determine when the decision becomes official, with the association expected to make a formal announcement once the outstanding matters have been resolved.
For Bafana supporters, the possibility of seeing Mosimane back on the national-team bench is already one of the biggest developments in South African football.
References
- SABC News — “SAFA NEC approves Pitso Mosimane’s appointment as new Bafana coach”
Reports that SAFA’s National Executive Committee approved Mosimane’s appointment and that he is set to take over as Bafana Bafana coach.
Read the SABC News report - ESPN — “SAFA NEC approves Pitso Mosimane return for Bafana, pending ‘loose ends’”
ESPN reports that SAFA approved Mosimane’s return, with final details still needing to be resolved before the appointment is formally completed.
Read the ESPN report - IOL — “Pitso Mosimane set for sensational Bafana Bafana return after SAFA NEC backing”
IOL reports on SAFA’s backing of Mosimane and his expected return to the Bafana Bafana coaching position.
Read the IOL report
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