The South African Football Association have rebuffed what they labelled as “false claims” that Hugo Broos will leave his role as Bafana Bafana head coach, just a day after the Belgian mentor himself announced the end of his reign.
Broos is currently in his home country after writing history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, guiding Bafana to their first-ever knockout stages after a crucial group stage win over South Korea.
While before the tournament he had stated he would finish after the World Cup with Bafana, comments from during the World Cup hinted that he could potentially still continue. However, he then told local news outlet voetbalnieuws in Belgium he will not be the coach anymore but could continue in a different role.
“Will I continue as a coach after all? No, it is irreversible,” he was quoted as saying.
“If they need me for something else, perhaps in scouting: that is something else. But football is no longer going to be a part of my life 24 hours a day.
“I have already had a conversation with the chairman of the South African federation. He would like to keep me, but in a different role, as an advisor or something like that. I will return at the end of July to say a final farewell; I am curious to see what he will propose to me.”
After Broos’ quotes were brought to the South African football fraternity by iDiski Times and picked up by major outlets around the country, SAFA felt the need to release a statement, labelling reports based on Broos’ own quotes as “completely false claims” and insisted the Belgian is still the head coach of Bafana.
“The South African Football Association (SAFA) has dismissed claims that mentor Hugo Broos has left his role as the head coach of the South African senior men’s national team.
“Broos remains as the head coach of Bafana Bafana and reports claiming the contrary are completely false.
“It is not the first time that the Belgian mentor is being linked to an exit shortly after the South African senior men’s national team has performed well at an international tournament. In March 2024 Broos was said to be joining the Tunisian national team a few weeks after Bafana Bafana had won bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“Broos returned with the team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup a few days ago after making history in the global showpiece currently underway in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada. Bafana Bafana qualified for the second round of the tournament for the first time ever after beating South Korea 1-0 in the last group match in Monterrey, Mexico.
“The coach is currently at home in Belgium and will return to South Africa later this month.”