Sports News of 2026-09-01
South Africa reappoints Pitso Mosimane as Bafana Bafana head coach
Pitso Mosimane has returned as head coach of South Africa’s national team, more than a decade after his first spell with Bafana Bafana ended abruptly.
The 62-year-old has been handed the job after the South African Football Association (SAFA) approved his appointment on August 8, 2026.
He was officially presented in Johannesburg on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, after completing negotiations over his contract and finalising his technical team.
Mosimane returns as the successor to Hugo Broos, who left the national team after five years when his contract expired at the end of July 2026.
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His first stint with Bafana Bafana lasted from July 2010 to June 2012. It ended following a disappointing start to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, with South Africa drawing 1-1 at home against Ethiopia.
That period was also marked by a costly misunderstanding during the qualification race for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa failed to reach the tournament after mistakenly believing a draw against Sierra Leone in their final group match would be enough to secure qualification.
Mosimane’s reputation, however, has grown considerably since leaving the national team.
He enjoyed a highly successful spell at Mamelodi Sundowns before moving to Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, where he further established himself as one of Africa’s leading coaches.
Across his club career, Mosimane has won the African Champions League three times, underlining the experience and continental pedigree he now brings back to Bafana Bafana.
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