Hugo Broos hints at Bafana stay with ‘see you in September’ comment

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has offered the strongest sign yet that he may continue his role with the national team, despite his contract expiring at the end of this month.

The Belgian coach made the remarks while attending the funeral of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams on Saturday.

Broos had previously indicated he might not continue as head coach but was potentially open to another position within the South African Football Association (SAFA). However, his comments at the funeral suggest a change of heart.

Hugo Broos: “I said three weeks ago goodbye to Jayden, I’ll see you in September…” pic.twitter.com/9Xf9KSvUDu

— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) July 25, 2026

Speaking to eNCA, Broos revealed his last conversation with Adams. “This is a very sad day for all of us,” he said. “Two weeks ago, I said goodbye to Jayden and said, ‘See you in September.’ But now I will never see him again… It is unreal, it is not fair, such a young guy.”

Has Broos made Bafana U-turn?

The mention of September is significant as it marks the beginning of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, implying Broos expects to be in charge for the upcoming campaign.

“He was talented, with a bright future in front of him. And now he is no longer among us,” Broos continued. “He helped us to achieve that historic result for South African football at the World Cup. There are no words to express how sad I am today.”

Broos’ contract is due to run out on July 30, bringing his tenure to five years since he was appointed in May 2021 but he had indicated that he was going to retire from coaching but left the door open for another role within SAFA.

“Will I continue as a coach ​after all? No, it is irreversible! If they need me for something else, perhaps in scouting: that is something else. But football is no longer going to ​be a part of my life 24 hours a day,” Broos ​told voetbalnieuws.be as quoted by Reuters early this month.

SAFA denies contract extension

“I have already had a conversation with the chairman of the South African ‌Football ⁠Association,” he added. “He would like to keep me, but in a different role, as an advisor or something like that. I will return at the end of July to say a final farewell. I am curious ​to see what ​he will ⁠propose to me.”

However, a report last week claimed that SAFA has offered Broos a one-year contract extension, taking his tenure up to AFCON 2027 at a time when it was believed that interviews were being conducted in a bid to find his successor.

SAFA denied that report while the association’s president Danny Jordaan has been cagey over the matter.

South Africa must wait, says Jordaan

“Well, one thing I can say, that there is no such thing that SAFA signed a one-year contract with Broos. it doesn’t exist. It’s nonsense and it’s better that these nonsenses are not put out there,” Jordaan told the media on Thursday.

Who is coaching Bafana Bafana? It should be a simple question. Instead, @ThabisoSithole's request for clarity turns into a confrontation with SAFA president Danny Jordaan. And South Africa is still waiting for the answer.

Watch the full conversation: https://t.co/m4AXWTvp9D pic.twitter.com/sRiVBDvLfE

— eNCA (@eNCA) July 24, 2026

“So, I just came back yesterday and I saw, what is this now? It’s nonsense. Yeah, we have a coach.  No, we will deal with it. There is a process. The technical team makes a recommendation to the national executive. The national executive finally decides on the coach. So, you cannot stop me in the street and hijack a decision. It’s not going to happen.

“No, no, South Africa must wait. South Africa must understand. The World Cup ended just yesterday. We’re having processes and things that must happen,” Jordaan added.