Pitso Mosimane Reappointed South Africa Head Coach After 14-Year Absence

Pitso Mosimane has been reappointed head coach of South Africa's men's national team, returning to the post more than 14 years after his first spell ended. BBC Sport reported that the 62-year-old was formally presented to the media in Johannesburg on Tuesday after completing negotiations over his contract and technical staff.

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Mosimane replaces Hugo Broos, whose five-year tenure ended when his contract expired at the end of July. Under Broos, Bafana Bafana finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup. That tournament marked South Africa's first appearance at the finals since the country hosted the event in 2010.

The South Africa Football Association's executive committee approved Mosimane's return on 8 August, according to the BBC report. His public unveiling followed once the details surrounding his contract and technical team had been finalised. The association has not announced the length of his agreement, leaving the duration of his second spell unspecified.

Mosimane previously led the national side from July 2010 until June 2012. South Africa did not qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations during that period after mistakenly believing a draw against Sierra Leone in their final group match would secure a place at the tournament. The result was not enough to take the team through.

His first tenure concluded after South Africa drew 1-1 at home to Ethiopia in their opening qualifier for the 2014 World Cup. Mosimane subsequently built a successful club record in African football, most notably with Mamelodi Sundowns and Egyptian club Al Ahly. Across those spells, he won the African Champions League three times.

More recently, Mosimane has worked outside South Africa, holding managerial positions in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Iran. His most recent job was with Iranian club Esteghlal. He now returns to a national team that Broos took back to the World Cup and onto the podium at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the precise term of the new appointment still to be confirmed.