Safa set to name Bafana coach
Safa set to name Bafana coach as the South African Football Association (Safa) prepares to announce Hugo Broos’ successor ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying campaign. With the qualifiers beginning in September, the football governing body is racing against time to appoint a new Bafana Bafana coach who can build on the progress made under Broos and guide the national team toward another successful continental campaign.
The announcement is expected next week after the Safa technical committee concludes its evaluation of candidates and submits its recommendation to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for approval. The appointment comes at a critical moment for South African football, with Bafana Bafana set to compete against Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea in Group D of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.
Safa final stages of coach selection
The South African Football Association has confirmed that the recruitment process is nearing completion after nine coaching candidates presented their visions for the future of Bafana Bafana.
According to Jack Maluleka, chairperson of the Safa technical committee, the association has already completed interviews and presentations. Five candidates appeared before the committee in person, while the remaining applicants made virtual presentations.
Maluleka explained that the committee’s responsibility is to identify the most suitable candidate before forwarding the recommendation to Safa Chief Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao, who will then submit it to the NEC for ratification.
The committee is expected to recommend a single candidate rather than multiple names, allowing the NEC to approve the appointment without unnecessary delays.
Bafana Bafana coach needed before Afcon qualifiers
Jack Maluleka stresses urgency
Maluleka emphasised that Safa cannot afford delays given the demanding international calendar awaiting Bafana Bafana.
He said the new coach should ideally assume duties before 5 August, giving the successful candidate roughly one month to prepare the squad before competitive fixtures begin.
The technical committee believes the national team already possesses a strong player base.
According to Maluleka, nearly 80% of the squad is already established, meaning the incoming coach will not need to completely rebuild the team.
Instead, the focus will be on maintaining momentum and preparing the players for a successful qualification campaign.
He also revealed that most coaching candidates expressed confidence in the current squad and believed they were capable of taking South African football to another level.
Pitso Mosimane remains favourite
Experienced coach linked with top job
Although Safa has refused to publicly identify all the shortlisted candidates, Pitso Mosimane has emerged as the strongest favourite to replace Hugo Broos.
Mosimane is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most successful football coaches, having won multiple CAF Champions League titles and managed clubs across South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
His recent launch of a coaching manual has once again placed him in the public spotlight, with many supporters believing his experience makes him the ideal candidate to lead Bafana Bafana.
Despite growing speculation, Maluleka declined to reveal whether Mosimane is indeed among the finalists, insisting that the committee will only announce the successful candidate once internal governance processes have been completed.
Hugo Broos era comes to an end
The appointment process coincides with the expiration of Hugo Broos’ contract at the end of July.
The Belgian coach transformed Bafana Bafana during his tenure, guiding South Africa back into continental prominence after several disappointing years.
Under Broos, South Africa produced impressive performances and regained belief ahead of the upcoming qualification cycle.
However, Safa President Danny Jordaan dismissed widespread reports claiming that Broos had already signed a one-year contract extension.
Jordaan described those reports as false and confirmed that no extension agreement exists.
Safa later released an official statement reiterating that Broos remains under contract only until 31 July 2026 and that no new contract has been approved.
Danny Jordaan dismisses contract speculation
Safa denies reports
The South African Football Association issued a detailed statement rejecting reports that a coaching decision had already been made.
According to Safa:
- No coach has been appointed.
- No contract has been approved.
- Governance procedures are still underway.
- An official announcement will follow once internal processes have been completed.
The association stressed that transparency remains a priority and that all decisions will be communicated through official channels rather than media speculation.
Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign approaching
The timing of the appointment is particularly important because the Africa Cup of Nations qualification tournament begins in September.
South Africa has been drawn alongside:
- Guinea
- Kenya
- Eritrea
The qualifying competition features 48 national teams divided into 12 groups.
The top teams will advance to the tournament proper, scheduled to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July.
Failure to appoint a coach promptly could reduce preparation time significantly, placing unnecessary pressure on both players and coaching staff.
Technical committee confident in process
Maluleka insisted the technical committee has carefully evaluated every applicant.
He explained that interviews began even before the FIFA World Cup, allowing the committee sufficient time to assess each candidate thoroughly.
The committee also confirmed that Broos’ final technical report will not delay the appointment process.
Instead, the report will be archived while Safa proceeds with selecting the next national team coach.
This approach ensures continuity while avoiding unnecessary interruptions to preparations.
What the new coach inherits
The incoming Bafana Bafana coach will inherit a squad that has developed consistency under Hugo Broos.
Several younger players have established themselves in the national team, while experienced campaigners continue providing leadership.
The successful candidate’s immediate priorities will include:
- Preparing for September’s qualifiers.
- Maintaining squad harmony.
- Building tactical continuity.
- Securing qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations.
- Preparing for future FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.
With little time available before competitive matches resume, the transition will need to be swift and well organised.
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South African football looks ahead
The announcement of the next Bafana Bafana coach marks one of the most important decisions for South African football in recent years.
Supporters remain hopeful that Safa’s selection process will produce a coach capable of maintaining the progress achieved under Hugo Broos while taking the national team to even greater heights.
Whether the appointment ultimately goes to Pitso Mosimane or another experienced candidate, expectations will immediately focus on qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations and continued improvement on the international stage.
With September fast approaching, all eyes are now on Safa, Jack Maluleka, Lydia Monyepao, and Danny Jordaan as South African football prepares to usher in a new era for Bafana Bafana.
References from mainstream media
- TimesLIVE – SAFA to appoint new Bafana Bafana coach after Hugo Broos’ departure: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/
- SABC Sport – Latest Bafana Bafana coaching and SAFA news: https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer
- SuperSport – Bafana Bafana and South African football updates: https://supersport.com/football/south-africa
- The Citizen – SAFA coaching search and Bafana Bafana coverage: https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/
- KickOff – South African football news, SAFA and Bafana Bafana: https://www.kickoff.com/
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