Cape Town – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has officially bid farewell to Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, whose contract came to an end on Friday, bringing an end to his five-year tenure in charge of the national team.
Speaking at SAFA House in Johannesburg, SAFA president Danny Jordaan praised the Belgian mentor for rebuilding Bafana Bafana into one of Africa’s strongest sides and thanked him for the lasting impact he leaves on South African football.
“We are happy, and we want to thank him for the contribution that he has made and the team that he has built,” Jordaan said.
The association credited Broos with identifying and developing a new generation of talent, turning relatively unknown players into established internationals.
“Many of the players that did not register as national team players are now established national team players. Many of them were unknown when they started. But you had the foresight, the vision and the determination to select all of them.”
SAFA also highlighted the team’s rise under Broos, saying South Africa is now ranked among the top 10 national teams on the continent and has become a side capable of consistently competing at the highest level.
[BREAKING NEWS] SAFA confirms Hugo Broos’ departure as Bafana coach after five years. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/6WyqsPAj6W
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“Ultimately we have established a very, very good team. We want to thank you for that, that South Africa now is amongst the top 10 best teams on the continent, and we have a team that can compete.”
The association acknowledged that replacing Broos would be a major challenge, particularly with the next Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign on the horizon.
“It’s a huge challenge for us as we part ways and have to find a new driver for the team. We’ve become used to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations now.”
During his spell in charge, Broos guided Bafana Bafana back to the Africa Cup of Nations and oversaw one of the team’s most successful periods in recent years. Under his leadership, South Africa finished third at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, secured qualification for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, and put themselves in a strong position in the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Broos has confirmed that he is retiring from football altogether, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be the final tournament of his coaching career before returning home to Belgium.
Reflecting on his time in South Africa, the 74-year-old said the support he received from fans was unlike anything he had experienced during his 38 years in management.
“When I leave my apartment and go to do some groceries, five, ten, fifteen, sometimes twenty people stop me. They say, ‘Coach, can we have a photo? Thank you, you made us proud.’ It never happened in my 38-year career as a coach. Never.”
Broos said he was immensely proud of what the team had achieved together, stressing that the success belonged to everyone involved in the national setup.
“I’m very proud and happy that I worked here for five years, of what we achieved together, because it’s not only me. Let that be very clear. All the people I worked with contributed to that success.”
He admitted that leaving Bafana Bafana was an emotional decision, having built lifelong friendships with members of the technical team.
“I made friends for life. They are not colleagues, they are friends for life. That made it so amazing, and it also made it so difficult for me to leave this team.”
Broos also expressed his gratitude to SAFA president Danny Jordaan for the unwavering support he received throughout his tenure, recalling a conversation that convinced him to continue with the national team.
“I will always remember the moment the president called me into his office. He felt that I was doubting my future as Bafana Bafana coach. Suddenly he said, ‘Whatever they say and write, I know what you are doing. Go on with what you are doing. You have my full support.’ It was the start of a fantastic journey.”
Broos leaves Bafana Bafana having restored belief in the national team, rebuilt its identity and laid a strong foundation for the future, making him one of the most successful and influential coaches in South African football history.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
