‘We did great’ – Bafana coach receives major endorsement despite early AFCON elimination

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has been backed as the best man to still deliver for the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Broos is picking up the pieces after a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that promised so much but ended with a Round of 16 exit following a 2-1 loss to Cameroon last Sunday.

However, while Broos has been blamed for getting his selection and tactics wrong, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie believes the Belgian has done brilliantly and should not be touched.

“This team is a national team. It’s a team that has done very well for us,” McKenzie told Newzroom Afrika when Broos and his team returned from Morocco on Wednesday.

McKenzie defends Broos

“We mustn’t stand here and act like Bafana Bafana were knocked out in the first round. No! There are teams that can complain. We did great but we didn’t do our best.

“Hugo Broos has truly woken up Bafana Bafana and I hear people are saying, ‘It’s time for Hugo Broos to go’, to go where? Hugo Broos is going nowhere.

[WATCH] "Hugo Broos is going nowhere. How do you blame the coach when players don't score? Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie says the Bafana Bafana coach will continue with the team to the World Cup in the USA.'' #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/kTjq8MMfAV

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 7, 2026

“And I want to make that clear. Hugo Broos is going absolutely nowhere. Hugo Broos is going to Mexico, that’s where Hugo Broos is going. We can’t have this mentality where people must just be going, going, going.”

McKenzie feels the players should also take responsibility and not just the coach getting all the blame, especially after missing key chances against Cameroon.

Should Bafana players be blamed?

“How do you blame Hugo Broos when players don’t score? How do you blame the coach? We all watched the game,” he added.

“So, I want to make also that very clear. I hear voices say, ‘no, Hugo Broos must be fired’. Fired for who and for what? We are going to the World Cup.

“He’s been doing very, very well. It seems we’ve got short memories. No, Hugo Broos must truly, truly take us to the World Cup so that he can retire. Then, after the World Cup, we can then bring in a new coach.”