Pitso Mosimane admitted on Wednesday that he harbours ambitions of returning to the Bafana Bafana head coach position in order to win the one competition that has eluded him – the Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite having three CAF Champions League crowns – one with Mamelodi Sundowns and two with Al Ahly – to his name, Mosimane’s brief spell in international football – following the 2010 World Cup – ended in disappointment. After the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, he was shown the door.
He dusted himself off and returned to club football. Appointed head coach of Sundowns in 2012, Mosimane rehabilitated his reputation and went on to become the most successful coach in South African football.
Fast forward to 2026 and he finds himself back on the market.
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
Hugo Broos will step aside after the World Cup in North America. The Belgian has led the national team well, guiding them to an Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal and returning them to the world stage. Succeeding him will not be easy, which is why the South African Football Association needs to get this appointment right.
South African football is on the rise, and the current crop of players has been described as a “golden generation”. The next coach must know how to extract the very best from this group while continuing to win. On paper, Mosimane fits that profile. He is a proven winner who does not get fazed by elite opposition.
However, SAFA should avoid making an emotional decision and only appoint him after turning over every rock to determine he is truly the best candidate.
We have seen a nostalgic appointment before. In 2012 – after Mosimane’s dismissal – Gordon Igesund was handed the responsibility of restoring Bafana Bafana’s fortunes. Igesund was the most decorated South African coach at the time, with four PSL titles, yet he proved to be the wrong man for that moment. His time should have been in the late 90s or early 2000s.
Ultimately, Mosimane’s pursuit of the national team role is not about nostalgia or unfinished business – it is about legacy. He has conquered club football on the continent, but international silverware remains the one gap on an otherwise glittering CV.
If SAFA are serious about sustaining this upward trajectory beyond Broos, they must weigh sentiment against substance and vision against reputation. Should Mosimane convince them that he is not merely chasing redemption but presenting a clear, modern blueprint to win the Africa Cup of Nations, then his return could be more than a romantic reunion.
IOL Sport
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
