Pitso Mosimane Returns to Lead South Africa in AFCON 2027

South African football has gone back to a familiar face – and a proven winner. The South African Football Association has turned to Pitso Mosimane to take charge of the national team, handing the veteran coach the reins just weeks before the start of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

He replaces Belgian coach Hugo Broos, and walks into a job he knows carries weight and expectation. This time, though, he returns with an even heavier suitcase of medals.

Mosimane’s track record speaks loudly. Over the course of his career he has collected 20 trophies, building a reputation as one of Africa’s most successful coaches. He has lifted the CAF Champions League three times – once with Mamelodi Sundowns and twice with Egyptian giants Al Ahly – and turned those clubs into continental forces.

At home, he dominated. Five South African league titles underline his grip on the domestic game during his peak years with Sundowns, where his sides became synonymous with structure, intensity and relentlessness.

His journey since then has stretched far beyond South Africa’s borders. Mosimane has worked in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli Jeddah and Abha, and in the UAE with Al Wahda, before his most recent spell at Iranian club Esteghlal. Each stop added another layer of experience in managing big dressing rooms, big expectations and high-pressure fixtures.

That is exactly why timing feels crucial here. With AFCON 2027 qualifying about to begin, the federation has opted for a coach who has lived through knockout tension and title races across the continent. They want his know-how to steer Bafana Bafana through a demanding qualifying programme and back to the finals.

Upcoming Matches

The new era starts quickly. Mosimane’s first game in charge comes against Guinea on 26 September, a sharp introduction to competitive action. Four days later, on 30 September, South Africa face Eritrea, another early test of how fast he can impose his ideas.

Then come the potentially decisive clashes. Home and away meetings with Kenya in November will likely shape the complexion of the group and the mood around this new tenure.

South Africa have made their move. Now the question is simple: can Pitso Mosimane turn his vast club success into a sustained charge on the international stage?