Hugo Broos: SAFA finally confirms Bafana coach’s departure

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has officially confirmed the departure of Hugo Broos, bringing his transformative five-year tenure as Bafana Bafana’s head coach to a close.

The Belgian tactician will not be extending his contract and is set to return to his home country to be with his family. His departure marks the end of one of the most successful coaching periods in the nation’s recent football history.

𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗔 𝗞𝗔𝗛𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗦 🇿🇦

OFFICIAL: SAFA have confirmed that coach Hugo Broos will not continue as head coach of Bafana Bafana. 🤝

Broos took South Africa up an incredible 21 places on the FIFA Ranking along with World Cup qualification and a record breaking… pic.twitter.com/aUAuegL9g0
— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) July 31, 2026

Broos, who became the longest-serving Bafana Bafana coach, took the helm in May 2021 when the team’s morale and public confidence were at a historic low. With a clear vision, he methodically rebuilt the squad, instilling discipline and placing his trust in emerging young talent to forge a competitive unit.

Hugo Broos is leaving his role as Bafana Bafana coach. Image: Imago

High standards set by Hugo Broos

The 74-year-old’s list of accomplishments is significant. He guided South Africa to a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire and secured their spot in the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Most notably, Broos ended a 16-year drought by leading Bafana Bafana back to the FIFA World Cup, where they made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

Recent reports had suggested that SAFA offered Broos a one-year extension to see him through the 2027 AFCON.

However, it is now clear that the coach has opted not to continue his work in South Africa, having previously stated that family considerations would be a key factor in his decision after spending extended periods away from home.

SAFA to name new Bafana coach

“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.

Beyond the impressive results, Broos’s legacy will be defined by the renewed belief he instilled in the national team, re-establishing South Africa as a formidable force in both continental and global football. The responsibility now falls on SAFA to find a worthy successor before the AFCON qualifiers begin in September.