Pitso Mosimane Begins Second Bafana Bafana Era With 2027 AFCON Qualification Challenge.

Pitso Mosimane is officially back in charge of Bafana Bafana, with the South African Football Association (SAFA) confirming his appointment on Tuesday, September 1. The return marks the beginning of Mosimane’s second permanent era as South Africa’s head coach and comes with an immediate challenge: guiding Bafana Bafana to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The appointment ends weeks of speculation following the departure of Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who left after leading South Africa to a historic run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under Broos, Bafana Bafana reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in their history, raising expectations for whoever took over the national team.

Mosimane Returns to a Different Bafana Bafana Team.

Mosimane previously managed Bafana Bafana from 2010 to 2012, but his first permanent spell ended after South Africa failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON. He now returns to the national team more than a decade later with a considerably stronger coaching résumé and extensive experience at the highest level of African club football.

Since leaving the Bafana Bafana job, Mosimane has established himself as one of Africa’s most decorated coaches. His achievements with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, including multiple CAF Champions League triumphs, have significantly strengthened his reputation and give him a different level of experience heading into his second Bafana Bafana era.

Mosimane himself acknowledged the significance of the appointment, describing it as a major responsibility and stressing that the Bafana Bafana job represents something larger than an individual coaching position.

2027 AFCON Qualification Is the Immediate Priority.

There will be little time for Mosimane to settle into his new position. Bafana Bafana begin their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign later this month, with a home match against Guinea scheduled for September 26 before South Africa faces Eritrea four days later at a neutral venue in Egypt.

The 2027 AFCON qualifiers will provide Mosimane with his first competitive test since returning to the Bafana Bafana job. South Africa will then face Kenya in home-and-away fixtures in November before completing the qualification campaign against Guinea and Eritrea in March 2027.

The qualification structure creates additional pressure because Kenya are co-hosts of AFCON 2027 and automatically qualify, meaning only one other team from Bafana Bafana’s group will advance through the qualifying route.

A Strong World Cup Team Raises Expectations.

Mosimane inherits a Bafana Bafana squad that has just experienced one of the most successful periods in South African football history. South Africa qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and then progressed to the knockout stage, something the country had never previously achieved at the tournament.

That success means Mosimane will not simply be expected to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. There will also be pressure to maintain the momentum created under Broos and develop a team capable of competing for major continental honours.

The new Bafana Bafana coach will therefore have to balance continuity with change. Several players who helped South Africa reach the World Cup will remain central to the national team, while Mosimane will also be expected to identify emerging talent and establish his own tactical identity.

Mosimane Faces Pressure From Day One.

The timing of the appointment means Mosimane has little room for experimentation. With the Bafana Bafana AFCON 2027 qualifiers beginning this month, the new coach must quickly assemble his squad, establish his technical team and prepare players for competitive international football.

His return also comes after a lengthy period of negotiations between Mosimane and SAFA. The federation’s National Executive Committee had endorsed him in August, but discussions over the appointment and financial package delayed the official announcement until September 1. Now that the appointment is official, attention will shift entirely to results.

A Second Chance for Mosimane.

For Mosimane, the return to Bafana Bafana represents an opportunity to rewrite part of his national-team history. His first spell ended under difficult circumstances after South Africa missed the 2012 AFCON, but his achievements in the years since have transformed him into one of the continent’s most accomplished coaches.

The challenge now is to translate that experience into success with the national team.

Pitso Mosimane’s return gives Bafana Bafana one of Africa’s most decorated coaches at a crucial moment. With the 2027 AFCON qualifiers beginning this month and South Africa coming off a historic World Cup campaign, expectations will be high. Mosimane’s second Bafana Bafana era begins with a simple but demanding objective: qualify for AFCON 2027, build on the World Cup momentum and restore South Africa as a consistent force in African football.