The experienced coach takes charge of the national team for a second time, more than a decade after his first spell in the role.
Johannesburg, South Africa (Running Africa) — Pitso Mosimane has been appointed head coach of South Africa’s national football team, returning to Bafana Bafana more than 14 years after his first spell in charge.
The 62-year-old succeeds Belgian coach Hugo Broos, whose five-year tenure ended in July after overseeing a significant revival of the South African national team.
Mosimane previously coached Bafana Bafana between 2010 and 2012, but his first spell ended after South Africa failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
He returns with a considerably stronger coaching résumé, having established himself as one of Africa’s most successful managers through trophy-winning spells with Mamelodi Sundowns and Egypt’s Al Ahly, as well as coaching experience in the Middle East.
Pitso Mosimane Returns as Bafana Bafana Head Coach
Mosimane’s appointment brings him back to a position he last held more than a decade ago.
His previous tenure with South Africa began in 2010 following the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
However, the spell ended in 2012 after Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Much has changed in Mosimane’s career since then.
The South African coach has built an extensive record at club level, winning major domestic and continental honors and gaining experience across several football markets.
His return, therefore, comes with greater expectations as Bafana Bafana seek to build on the progress achieved under Broos.
Mosimane Replaces Hugo Broos After Five-Year Tenure
Mosimane succeeds Hugo Broos, who left the national team in July following five years in charge.
The Belgian coach helped restore South Africa’s competitiveness on the continental stage after several difficult years for the national side.
One of the defining achievements of his tenure came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where Bafana Bafana finished third.
The performance represented South Africa’s best AFCON finish in years and renewed optimism around the national team.
Broos also guided Bafana Bafana back to the FIFA World Cup, ending a lengthy absence from the global tournament.
South Africa had not qualified for a World Cup since hosting in 2010.
Mosimane Returns After Major Success With Sundowns and Al Ahly
Mosimane’s achievements since leaving the national team have transformed his standing within African football.
At Mamelodi Sundowns, he built one of the continent’s strongest club sides, winning multiple domestic titles and establishing the Pretoria club as a major force in African competition.
His success included winning the CAF Champions League, cementing his reputation as one of South Africa’s leading coaches.
Mosimane later moved to Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he added further continental silverware.
He guided the Cairo club to CAF Champions League success and competed at the FIFA Club World Cup, further strengthening his international coaching profile.
Those achievements made Mosimane one of the most decorated African coaches of his generation.
Pitso Mosimane Brings International Coaching Experience
Beyond South Africa and Egypt, Mosimane has expanded his career across the Middle East.
He has held coaching positions in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran, gaining experience across different leagues and football cultures.
That international exposure gives him a significantly broader coaching background than during his first spell with Bafana Bafana.
His ability to manage high-pressure environments and compete for major trophies will now be tested at the international level.
Unlike club football, Mosimane will have limited time with players during international windows, making squad selection, tactical preparation, and player management particularly important.
Bafana Bafana Enter Mosimane Era After Recent Resurgence
Mosimane inherits a South African team in a much stronger position than the one he left more than 14 years ago.
Bafana Bafana’s third-place finish at AFCON demonstrated their renewed ability to compete against Africa’s strongest national teams.
World Cup qualification provided another major boost.
The challenge for Mosimane will be maintaining that momentum while developing a team capable of consistently competing for major African honors.
Expectations are likely to be particularly high given both the squad’s recent progress and Mosimane’s record of success at club level.
South Africa Look to Build on AFCON and World Cup Progress
Mosimane’s appointment represents a significant new chapter for South African football.
Rather than beginning a complete rebuilding project, the former Sundowns and Al Ahly coach inherits a team with recent success and growing expectations.
His immediate task will be to preserve the foundation established under Broos, introduce his own tactical ideas, and prepare the squad for upcoming international competitions.
South Africa will also hope its return to the World Cup can become the beginning of a sustained period of qualification for major tournaments rather than another isolated appearance.
Pitso Mosimane Faces Second Chance With South Africa
For Mosimane, returning to Bafana Bafana offers an opportunity to rewrite the story of his first spell with the national team.
When he departed in 2012, his tenure was defined partly by the disappointment of missing the Africa Cup of Nations.
He returns more than 14 years later as a CAF Champions League-winning coach with extensive experience across African and international club football.
The circumstances are also different.
Mosimane is taking charge of a Bafana Bafana side that has returned to the World Cup and re-established itself as a competitive force in African football.
His appointment now brings together one of Africa’s most accomplished coaches and a South African national team seeking to turn its recent resurgence into sustained success.
