The Belgian coach leaves after guiding Bafana Bafana to an AFCON bronze medal and a historic FIFA World Cup campaign.
By Mapaballo Borotho

South African national football team coach Hugo Broos has officially stepped down from his role as Bafana Bafana coach.
The announcement was made by the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Friday, 31 July 2026.
Broos spent five years with Bafana Bafana and played a key role in the team’s resurgence, including helping the national team secure a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
SAFA also hailed the fact that during Broos’ tenure, Bafana Bafana qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 24 years.
The team made history at the 2026 global tournament by reaching the second round of the competition for the first time ever after defeating South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey, Mexico, through a goal from Thapelo Maseko.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan thanked the Belgian coach for the impact he had on the national team.
“We have established a very, very good team, and we want to thank you for that, that South Africa now is among the top ten best teams on the continent, and we have a team that can compete.
Of course, it’s a huge challenge for us as we part ways and have to find a new driver for the team, and we have a difficult challenge to qualify again for the Africa Cup of Nations. We’ve become used to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations now,” said Jordaan.
Jordaan added that SAFA hopes Bafana Bafana will continue building on the success achieved under Broos.
Broos explained that his decision to leave was influenced by the time he has spent away from his family.
“My long absence from my family and lonely moments in South Africa have led me to make this difficult decision. Qualifying for the World Cup 40 years after my participation at the World Cup in 1986 as a player with the Belgian national team brought things full circle,” he said.
Broos will return home to Belgium on Saturday, 01 August 2026.
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