Hugo Broos warns Bafana could ‘go five years back’ under Mosimane

FORMER Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has thrown fuel into the fire warning SAFA against appointing the NEC-favoured Pitso Mosimane to head the men's national team.

Former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has taken another swipe at the South African football establishment, claiming the national team could regress by five years if Pitso Mosimane succeeds him.

Broos, who left his position after guiding South Africa to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, made the comments during a lengthy interview with Belgian media over the weekend.

The 74-year-old was asked about his reputation for speaking his mind when he turned his attention to the uncertainty surrounding Bafana’s next coach.

Although SAFA’s National Executive Committee approved Mosimane’s appointment earlier this month, contractual negotiations have delayed an official announcement.

Broos believes Mosimane’s potential return to the national team could see outside influence play a greater role in squad selection.

“You know, South Africa still don’t have a coach. The candidate is Pitso Mosimane, a successful South African coach,” Broos said.

“But they know that if he comes in, they’ll go five years back in time.”

The Belgian then alleged that club owners and agents could attempt to influence the selection of players under Mosimane, claiming he had actively resisted such pressure during his tenure.

“Club owners and agents calling coaches to influence the squad selection. I threw all of them out,” he said.

Broos’ comments come at a sensitive time for Bafana, with SAFA yet to formally announce Mosimane as his successor and the national team preparing for the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

South Africa have been drawn alongside Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya in Group D and are scheduled to begin their campaign in September.

Mosimane, should his appointment be finalised, would return to a national team he previously coached between 2010 and 2012.

His second spell would come with considerably greater expectations after a career that has seen him win the CAF Champions League three times, including twice with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, while also leading Mamelodi Sundowns to their first continental title.