The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as the new head coach of Bafana Bafana, ushering in a new era for the national team following the departure of Hugo Broos. The 62-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly tactician was unveiled on 1 September, signing a contract that will see him lead the side through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and beyond, with an estimated annual salary of R10 million.
Mosimane takes over from Broos, who guided Bafana Bafana to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—a feat that earned widespread praise but was ultimately not enough to secure his retention. Mosimane was quick to pay tribute to his predecessor, acknowledging the solid foundations laid by the Belgian coach. “Hugo Broos did a fantastic job in rebuilding the team. He gave us a young, hungry squad, and my task is to build on that and add the tactical edge needed to win silverware,” Mosimane said.
The new coach has already begun assembling his technical team, naming Musi Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoago as assistants, with a third appointment expected in due course. His immediate focus will be on the upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which begin with a home fixture against Guinea later this month. Mosimane is widely expected to blend the youthful core developed under Broos with his own tactical philosophy, honed through three CAF Champions League triumphs with Sundowns and Al Ahly.
The appointment has been met with widespread enthusiasm from fans and pundits alike, with many viewing Mosimane as the missing piece in Bafana’s quest for continental glory. With his track record of success on the continent, the pressure is now on Mosimane to deliver results quickly. For South African football, the return of “Jingles” is not just a coaching change—it’s a statement of intent.
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