By McGeorge Mbare
The South African Football Association has reappointed fellow countryman Pitso Mosimane as the head coach of the men’s national team ahead of the AFCON qualifiers.
SAFA officially confirmed Mosimane as the new Bafana Bafana head coach, replacing Belgian coach Hugo Broos, whose tenure ended after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“A new era has arrived. SAFA officially announces that new Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane takes over the helm,” SAFA’s statement read.
The announcement ends months of speculation following Broos’s departure and signals a renewed push for success in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and beyond.
Prior to his return, Mosimane first took full charge of the national team in July 2010 after serving as assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira during the 2010 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
His tenure ended in June 2012 after South Africa failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
A costly miscalculation in the final qualifier against Sierra Leone, where a draw was accepted when a win was required, proved decisive.
Returning to the Bafana job, Mosimane is a vastly more accomplished, battle-hardened and tactically refined coach than the one who left in 2012.
At Mamelodi Sundowns from late 2012 to 2020, Mosimane built a dynasty, capturing five Premier Soccer League titles, multiple domestic cups, and most notably the 2016 CAF Champions League, the club’s first continental title.
He also won the 2017 CAF Super Cup.
Moving to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in 2020, he delivered consecutive CAF Champions League titles in 2020 and 2021, an Egyptian league and cup double, two CAF Super Cups and back to back third place finishes at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Mosimane was later hired in Saudi Arabia, where he promoted Al-Ahli.
Stints in the United Arab Emirates and Iran further broadened his experience across different football cultures and pressures.
Many South African fans feel he is the right man to have replaced Hugo Broos.
Born on 26 July 1964 in Soweto, Pitso Mosimane’s love for football began long before the trophies, the headlines and titles.
From an early age, the game became his passion, his teacher and ultimately the foundation of a lifetime dedicated to football.
His playing career took him from South Africa to Greece, Belgium, and Qatar.
He played for clubs including Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates, and represented Bafana Bafana.
These experiences shaped the football philosophy, discipline, and leadership principles that would later define his coaching career.
From grassroots coaching in Belgium to becoming Africa’s most decorated football coach, Pitso Mosimane has built a career defined by excellence, discipline, and transformation.
With 21 major titles across Africa and the Middle East, three CAF Champions League titles, and two FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals, he has become one of the continent’s most respected football minds.
As founder of the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football (PMYF), Mosimane is committed to “Creating the Player of Tomorrow”.
Through structured development pathways, coaching education and community-based football initiatives, he is helping shape the next generation of players, coaches and leaders across Africa.
Mosimane shares a working relationship with Zimbabwean soccer icon Peter Ndlovu described as a highly successful, professional and respectful partnership.
They worked closely together at Mamelodi Sundowns for seven years, transforming the club into an African football powerhouse.
The key facet of their partnership came when Mosimane served as head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns and Ndlovu was appointed Team Manager in 2013.
Ndlovu acted as the vital bridge between Mosimane’s technical staff and the players, building mutual respect and admiration.
Mosimane openly stated that he was a massive admirer of Ndlovu during his playing days in the English Premier League.
Conversely, Ndlovu has praised Mosimane’s elite tactical quality and leadership.
Their shared glory was spearheading an era of unprecedented dominance, winning multiple South African Premier Soccer League titles and the historic 2016 CAF Champions League.
Mosimane frequently credited Ndlovu for bringing “magic” and elite European professionalism to the locker room, using his extensive experience as former captain of Zimbabwe and a Coventry City star to mentor players.