Coach Hugo Broos rebuilds Bafana Bafana, eyes 2026 World Cup glory

Before the arrival of Belgian coach Hugo Broos in South Africa, Bafana Bafana qualifying for major tournaments was a particularly strenuous task. They had not qualified directly for a World Cup since 2002.

Their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was not guaranteed either. When they did qualify, they could never make it past the quarterfinals – a run that stretched over two decades. Under Broos, Bafana Bafana have now qualified for three major tournaments in a row.

The 2026 World Cup is the latest feather in their cap. Bafana Bafana achieved it by winning Group C ahead of Nigeria – by just a single point. They thrashed Rwanda 3-0 to seal the deal in their final match on Tuesday, 14 October.

This World Cup qualification was preceded by two Afcon qualifications – one for the 2023 edition in Cameroon, where the team picked up a bronze medal. It was South Africa’s first podium placing at the continental showpiece since a third-place finish in 2000.

Bafana Bafana will also be at the 2025 Afcon edition in Morocco. Some observers have already picked the team as a dark horse to win the tournament. However, with countries such as the host nation as well as Senegal and Egypt lurking, it won’t be easy.

Roller coaster qualifying campaign

As Bafana Bafana demonstrated during their roller coaster World Cup qualification campaign, with a bit of self-belief and camaraderie anything is possible.

From being docked three points for fielding suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a 2-0 win against Lesotho, to drawing matches they had chances to win, the South Africans were truly tested towards the finish line of what was generally a smooth qualification push.

They passed the test, barely. How they did it doesn’t matter to Broos and his men. All that matters is that they achieved their goal and in spite of the “Mokoena-gate” administrative bungle by the South African Football Association, Bafana Bafana are heading to the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

The tournament takes place from 11 June to 19 July and it will be South Africa’s first World Cup appearance since participating as hosts in 2010.

Team effort

Despite being credited with restoring the dignity of Bafana Bafana after so many years of public apathy towards the team, Broos said restoring their  lost aura has been a team effort. The tactician singled out former Bafana Bafana winger Helman Mkhalele for particular praise.

Mkhalele has served as Broos’s assistant since the former Cameroon coach became South Africa’s mentor in 2021.

“This is not only about the coach, I’m just a part of it. This is a team that has worked for three years to have those performances and nice moments.

“I can’t forget my staff, because they help me a lot. Especially Helman. Without him, we would not have achieved this,” Broos said.

“I heard someone saying that before, everyone laughed at Bafana Bafana. We were a joke, but now we are back on a high level and everybody respects us… This is something that the nation needed – a different way to look at football and judge players.”

Seizing the opportunity

Bafana Bafana are one of nine African teams that will make the trek to North America next year. They will be joined by Morocco, Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and the “Cinderella nation” of Africa’s qualification – debutants Cape Verde.

Recent World Cups had only 32 nations taking part, but the 2026 edition will be contested by 48 countries for the first time.

Broos believes Bafana Bafana featuring regularly in major tournaments and doing well can only benefit South African soccer.

There are a number of exciting prospects in the national team fold, including Orlando Pirates duo Relebohile Mofokeng and Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

“In December we have Afcon. We will try to do as well as last time, or hopefully even better. I hope with all these high-level tournaments, certainly next year at the World Cup, that players will have an opportunity to go to better leagues,” Broos said.

“They deserve it and they need it. If we can make that step in the future, you will see that South Africa will get even better.”

Since his arrival four years ago, Broos has spoken honestly about the average standards of South Africa’s top-flight soccer. His words have not always been welcomed and have sometimes even been called disrespectful. But it is a fact that South African players can earn more abroad. They also have a better opportunity to improve, across the board.

This improvement will trickle back into the national team, further boosting the credibility of South African soccer. Based on the meagre number of South Africans in top-flight European leagues, it seems as though international clubs have forgotten about this country’s soccer.

This is the same South Africa that produced players such as Benni McCarthy, Lucas Radebe, Steven Pienaar, Quinton Fortune, Aaron Mokoena and Delron Buckley – to name just a few.

This new generation, under the tutelage of Broos, has an opportunity to remind the world what South Africa has to offer from a soccer perspective come the 2026 World Cup.

Full-circle moment

Before Broos was a straight-talking coach he was an adept defender. One of his career highlights is playing at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Broos was part of the Belgium team that reached the semifinals of that tournament, appearing three times as they marched to the last four. There they were downed by Diego Maradona’s Argentina, the eventual winners of the world title.

The 73-year-old says that heading to another World Cup 40 years later, at the end of his coaching career, will make next year’s experience extra special for him. “You all know that I played at a World Cup at the end of my career as a player. Now I will do it again [as a coach]. That will be the right moment next year, after the World Cup, to stop my career and to go to my family.

“But there is still some work to do and I will try to do it well.”

South Africa have made three World Cup appearances – in 1998, 2002 and 2010. They have not managed to make it out of the group stage. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.