Pitso Mosimane’s recent appointment as the head coach of the South African national football team symbolizes a new chapter for Bafana Bafana, particularly after the team’s impressive run to the knockout stages of this year’s World Cup. His return comes with high expectations as he prepares to lead the national side in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, leveraging his extensive international experience from clubs across Africa and the Middle East.
ZezapTV reports that Pitso Mosimane was officially named the new coach of the South African national football team on August 8, 2026, a decision that followed 24 days of deliberation by the national football association. Danny Jordaan, the association’s president, had previously indicated that administrative matters were being finalized, but the delay took longer than anticipated.
Mosimane, who takes over from Belgian Hugo Broos, steps into his role after Broos’s successful tenure saw South Africa reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in North America. With only 23 days left until South Africa’s first qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Guinea, the urgency is palpable.
The challenge ahead is significant, particularly since Guinea, despite not qualifying for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, boasts a talented squad featuring Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund, one of Africa’s top strikers based in Europe. Mosimane, who previously managed Bafana Bafana from 2010 to 2012, returns with the hope of redeeming his past experience after an unsuccessful initial tenure that included failing to qualify for the 2012 AFCON. His earlier stint ended unfavorably after a disappointing draw against Ethiopia, which dashed the team’s World Cup hopes.
At the club level, Mosimane’s career has been exceptionally fruitful. He is celebrated for securing the CAF Champions League title once with Mamelodi Sundowns and an impressive two times with Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly. Additionally, he has claimed the CAF Super Cup three times, making him the most successful Black coach in the history of CAF competitions—a remarkable achievement that highlights his coaching prowess.
Mosimane’s coaching journey has also taken him to the Middle East, where he gained valuable experience in clubs based in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. His new contract with the South African team extends until the 2030 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, setting a promising groundwork for future achievements in South African football.
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