Pitso Mosimane is officially back in charge of Bafana Bafana after SAFA confirmed his appointment as the national team’s new head coach.
The South African Football Association has officially announced the return of one of the country’s most successful football coaches, with Mosimane set to take over from Belgian tactician Hugo Broos.
The appointment marks a new chapter for both Mosimane and the national team, as South Africa looks to build on the progress made during Broos’ tenure.
Mosimane Makes His Bafana Bafana Comeback
Mosimane is returning to a position he knows well. The 62-year-old previously coached Bafana Bafana between 2010 and 2012 and now has another opportunity to lead the country’s senior men’s national team.
His appointment brings a wealth of experience to the national setup, particularly from his highly successful spells at club level.
Mosimane established himself as one of Africa’s leading coaches during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he won multiple domestic trophies and guided the club to continental glory.
In 2016, he led Sundowns to their first CAF Champions League title, cementing his reputation on the African football stage.
His achievements continued after moving to Egypt, where he enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Al Ahly. Mosimane won consecutive CAF Champions League titles with the Cairo giants in 2020 and 2021 and added several other domestic and continental honours to his collection.
A Huge Challenge Awaits
Mosimane takes charge at an important moment for South African football.
Bafana Bafana are coming off a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, having reached the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history under Broos.
The challenge for Mosimane will now be to ensure that achievement becomes the beginning of a sustained period of success rather than a one-off milestone.
His first major task will include preparing the team for the road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, while also maintaining the competitive standards established under his predecessor.
There will also be considerable expectations from supporters, who will demand results from a coach whose record speaks for itself.
Mosimane Brings a Trophy-Laden Record
Few coaches in African football arrive with a résumé as decorated as Mosimane’s.
He has won 21 major trophies during his managerial career, including five PSL titles with Mamelodi Sundowns and the CAF Champions League in 2016.
During his time with Sundowns, he also collected two Nedbank Cup titles, two Telkom Knockout trophies and the CAF Super Cup.
At Al Ahly, Mosimane added two CAF Champions League crowns, an Egyptian Premier League title, the Egypt Cup and the CAF Super Cup. He also guided the Egyptian giants to third-place finishes at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2020 and 2021.
Earlier in his career, Mosimane won the Nedbank Cup and SAA Super Eight with SuperSport United.
His achievements have also earned him individual recognition. He was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2016 and has received multiple PSL Coach of the Season awards.
In 2024, the University of Johannesburg awarded Mosimane an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to football and sport.
Can Mosimane Take Bafana to the Next Level?
The return of Mosimane creates plenty of excitement around Bafana Bafana.
With South Africa having reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, the new coach inherits a squad that has already demonstrated its ability to compete on the biggest stage.
Mosimane’s task will be to build on that foundation, develop a clear identity for the national team and turn South Africa into a consistent force in African football.
His experience, trophy-winning mentality and knowledge of the South African game could prove crucial as Bafana Bafana enter a new era.
The Mosimane era has officially begun again — and expectations will be high.
