The South African Football Association (SAFA) has rejected reports claiming Hugo Broos has stepped down as head coach of the national senior men’s team, confirming that the Belgian remains in charge of Bafana Bafana.
SAFA said suggestions that Broos had left his position were false, insisting the experienced coach continues to lead the team following a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The speculation comes shortly after South Africa achieved a major milestone at the global tournament, where Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Broos guided the team to the second round after South Africa secured a memorable 1-0 victory over South Korea in their final group match in Monterrey, Mexico.
The result ensured Bafana Bafana advanced beyond the group phase at the World Cup for the first time, marking a significant achievement for South African football.
However, rumours suggesting Broos had departed from his role have been dismissed by SAFA, which described the reports as inaccurate.
The association also noted that this is not the first occasion where the Belgian coach has been linked with an exit following a successful international tournament with South Africa.
In March 2024, similar reports emerged claiming Broos was set to become the head coach of Tunisia, shortly after he had helped Bafana Bafana secure a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Those claims did not materialise, and Broos continued his work with the South African national team.
The 2026 World Cup marked another important chapter in Broos’ time with Bafana Bafana, as he helped the team achieve a record-breaking result on the world stage.
After completing their World Cup campaign, Broos returned with the squad a few days ago following the tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The coach is currently in Belgium, where he is spending time at home before returning to South Africa later this month.
SAFA’s confirmation means Broos will continue preparing Bafana Bafana for upcoming international challenges as the team looks to build on its historic World Cup performance.
The Belgian coach’s future had become a subject of speculation despite the success achieved during his tenure, but the football association has moved quickly to clarify his position.
With Broos still in charge, South Africa will look to maintain the progress made under his leadership after reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
The achievement in Mexico represented a significant moment for Bafana Bafana, who had never previously progressed beyond the group stage of the competition.
SAFA’s statement now puts an end to the latest rumours surrounding Broos and confirms that the experienced coach remains the man responsible for leading South Africa’s senior men’s national team.
