How Broos revived Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos deserves the freedom of every single city in South Africa or better still, the Order of Ikhamanga for the achievement he has attained since taking over.

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The Belgian brought back belief in a Bafana Bafana side and took them from position 73 in the FIFA world rankings to 55, helped the side win bronze at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and recently helped the team qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002. The silver-haired mentor overhauled and refreshed the team, bringing in renewed energy and belief as he did with Cameroon five years previously. While he earned plaudits for taking Bafana Bafana to bronze at the 2023 AFCON tournament in Cote d'Ivoire, his crowning moment must have been this week when he guided the national team to the global showpiece in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Hugo Broos's journey as the head coach of Bafana Bafana is one marked by resilience, determination, and strategic brilliance.

When he arrived in South Africa unheralded and somewhat under the radar, few could have envisioned the monumental impact he would have on the national team.

His tenure has been characterised by overcoming numerous hurdles, including internal criticism, tactical debates, and administrative setbacks, all of which he navigated with unwavering focus to ultimately lead South Africa to the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002.

Many questioned his tactical approaches and the selection process, reflecting a broader uncertainty about whether he could steer the team back to its competitive edge. The skepticism was compounded by a controversial incident where South Africa was docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho.

This administrative error, threatened to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the global showpiece, adding pressure on Broos to rally the squad amidst turmoil.

Broos' tactical acumen became apparent as he dismantled the team he inherited on his arrival and systematically began building a team capable of competing at the highest level.