Pitso Mosimane is officially back in charge of Bafana Bafana, with the South African Football Association confirming his return as head coach on Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
After weeks of speculation, negotiations and growing anticipation, the wait is finally over. Mosimane has been unveiled as the man tasked with taking South Africa into a new chapter following Hugo Broos’ departure.
It is a remarkable return for a coach whose career has changed dramatically since he last occupied the Bafana Bafana dugout.
Mosimane previously managed the national team between 2010 and 2012. Since then, however, he has built one of the strongest coaching résumés in African football, winning major domestic and continental honours with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly.
Now, more than a decade after his first Bafana spell ended, the 62-year-old returns to a national team that has considerably changed.
And that may be the most interesting part of this appointment.
Mosimane is not returning to the same Bafana Bafana he left.
Table of Contents
1. Pitso Mosimane is officially back
The South African football community has spent weeks waiting for confirmation, with Mosimane’s name increasingly becoming the obvious candidate to replace Broos.
That uncertainty ended on Tuesday when SAFA president Danny Jordaan unveiled Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana coach.
The appointment comes after SAFA’s National Executive Committee had already approved Mosimane’s return in August, although negotiations over the finer details of the appointment delayed the official announcement.
Mosimane now takes over from Broos, who departed after guiding South Africa to a historic run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That means the new coach inherits a team with considerably higher expectations than the one he managed more than 14 years ago.
2. Why this appointment is different from 2010
When Mosimane first became Bafana Bafana coach, he was already respected within South African football, but he had not yet built the extraordinary continental résumé that would later define his career.
That changed dramatically.
His time at Mamelodi Sundowns established him as one of Africa’s elite coaches. Under Mosimane, Sundowns won multiple domestic trophies and, most importantly, claimed the CAF Champions League in 2016.
His achievements with Al Ahly then took his reputation to another level.
Mosimane won the CAF Champions League with the Egyptian giants twice, meaning he has now won Africa’s premier club competition three times as a coach. CAF itself describes him as one of the continent’s most successful coaches.
That experience could prove invaluable in the national-team environment.
He understands South African football, knows the PSL, has worked with some of the country’s biggest players and has experienced the pressure that comes with competing for trophies at a continental level.
This is therefore a very different Pitso Mosimane from the coach who left Bafana in 2012.
3. Building on Hugo Broos’ foundation
Perhaps Mosimane’s biggest immediate challenge will be deciding how much of Broos’ work should remain.
Broos left Bafana after overseeing one of the most successful periods in the team’s recent history, including South Africa’s historic progression to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup.
That achievement means Mosimane cannot simply arrive and start again from scratch.
There is already a structure that works.
Former Bafana striker Jerry Sikhosana has argued that Mosimane should retain some of the discipline and organisation established under Broos while adding his own winning mentality.
That could become one of the defining themes of Mosimane’s tenure.
The question is not necessarily whether he can build a good team.
It is whether he can improve an already competitive one without disrupting what made it successful.
4. The 2027 AFCON challenge arrives quickly
Mosimane will not have the luxury of a long settling-in period.
Bafana Bafana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign is approaching rapidly.
South Africa are scheduled to face Guinea before travelling to Eritrea for their next qualifier later in September.
That gives Mosimane an immediate competitive test.
There will be little time for experimentation, particularly if South Africa wants to make a strong start to the qualifying campaign.
His first task will therefore be practical: identify his core group, communicate his tactical expectations and make sure the players understand what is required.
For a coach returning to the national setup, the timing could hardly be more demanding.
You May Also Be Interested In: Orlando Pirates Face 6 Big CAF Champions League Tests as Continental Campaign Begins
5. The biggest selection questions
One of the most fascinating aspects of Mosimane’s return will be his team selection.
The new coach knows many of the country’s established players, but South Africa also has a younger generation pushing for opportunities.
Players such as Ronwen Williams remain important figures, while experienced campaigners such as Themba Zwane could face questions about their future depending on Mosimane’s tactical plans and their form.
At the same time, younger talents are increasingly demanding attention.
That creates an important balancing act.
Mosimane will have to decide how quickly to introduce the next generation while ensuring that Bafana does not lose the experience that helped produce recent success.
His familiarity with South African football should help him assess the available talent.
But ultimately, selection decisions will be judged by results.
6. Can Mosimane take Bafana to another level?
That is the question South African supporters will ultimately want answered.
Mosimane arrives with an impressive record, but international football presents a very different challenge from club football.
At a club, a coach can work with players every day. With a national team, preparation time is limited and tactical ideas must be communicated quickly.
There is also enormous public pressure.
South Africans will expect Mosimane to qualify for major tournaments, compete strongly against Africa’s best teams and continue the progress made under Broos.
The expectations are therefore much higher than they were during Mosimane’s first spell.
But his experience has also changed.
He has coached in different football environments, managed elite players, dealt with continental competition and experienced both success and pressure at the highest level.
That is precisely why SAFA has turned to him now.
7. What happens next for Bafana Bafana?
The immediate focus will shift from the appointment itself to the football.
Mosimane now needs to assemble his technical team, assess the current squad and prepare for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
He also inherits a national team that has recently given supporters reasons to believe again.
That makes his return both exciting and complicated.
He has the opportunity to build on Broos’ achievements while putting his own stamp on the team.
For South African football supporters, there is also something symbolic about seeing one of the country’s most successful coaches return to the national dugout.
The first chapter of Mosimane’s Bafana career ended in disappointment.
The second begins with far greater experience, a stronger coaching résumé and a team coming off a historic World Cup campaign.
Whether that combination produces another golden period for Bafana Bafana will depend on what happens on the pitch.
But one thing is certain: Pitso Mosimane is back, and South African football is entering a fascinating new chapter.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new Bafana Bafana coach?
Pitso Mosimane has been appointed as the new head coach of Bafana Bafana. He returns to the national team after previously managing South Africa between 2010 and 2012.
Why did Pitso Mosimane return to Bafana Bafana?
Mosimane returns with considerably more coaching experience than he had during his first spell. Since leaving the national team, he has won major domestic and continental honours, including the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly.
Who did Pitso Mosimane replace as Bafana Bafana coach?
Mosimane replaces Belgian coach Hugo Broos, whose tenure included significant success with Bafana Bafana, including South Africa’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
What will be Pitso Mosimane’s biggest challenge with Bafana Bafana?
One of his biggest challenges will be building on the progress made under Broos while introducing his own tactical approach. He will also need to balance experienced players with younger talent as South Africa prepares for upcoming AFCON commitments.
When will Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana era begin?
Mosimane’s return comes at an important time, with South Africa’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign providing an immediate competitive test. His early results will be closely watched as he begins his second spell in charge.
Leave a Reply