SAFA planning for life after Hugo Broos at Bafana Bafana

By Velile Mnyandu
10th May 2026

The process to find a successor to Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos is about to begin, and the main aim is to have the new coach ready immediately after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This was confirmed to the media this afternoon by SAFA Technical Committee Chairperson Jack Maluleke, on the sidelines of a two-day National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the SAFA House.

Broos, who is now in his fifth and final year with Bafana Bafana, has already indicated that he won't continue beyond his current deal. Maluleke says they will soon start the process...

"For now, we are aware that we are heading to the World Cup, and according to the agreement with the coach this will be his last hurdle. As a technical committee we are here to tell you that the process to recruit another coach will be starting soon."

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Under Broos, Bafana Bafana have been transformed back into one of the top teams on the continent. The Belgian achieved an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bronze medal position in the 2023 edition in the Ivory Coast and has returned the team to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years with a direct qualification.

Maluleke says whoever comes in must match that standard...

SAFA is not short of options to replace Broos when his contract comes to an end after the World Cup, especially locally, and they will also be going for a coach who will be looking to settle in as soon as possible and work in tandem with the association’s technical structures.

The next Bafana Bafana coach has got his work cut out for him. In September, the team will start the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, and they should finish them by November.

Maluleke also says if Broos is keen to continue, he will have to apply and go through the process again...

"There are rumours that SAFA is negotiating with Hugo Broos and as far as I know as a technical chair we did not go there, but we open the process. If Hugo Broos has interest to continue I think he will also make the presentation to say he is also available - we won't close that space.

"We have to start soon with the process because we are aware that immediately after the World Cup the team must proceed with other qualifiers, so we are not going to close the door on anyone - including Hugo Broos."