Pitso Mosimane is returning as South Africa's head coach, with the South African Football Association expected to confirm his appointment this week. The move comes as Bafana Bafana prepare for September's FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, with the team currently second in their qualifying group with four points from three games.
According to a report from SABC Sport on 24th August, contractual talks concluded over the weekend, paving the way for Mosimane's return. He succeeds former Belgian international Hugo Broos, who completed a five-year tenure that included back-to-back AFCON titles and a historic run to the 2026 World Cup knockout stage. South Africa's recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses in their last five matches, including a 1-0 defeat to Canada in June.
What does Mosimane bring to South Africa?
Mosimane's return marks his second stint in charge of the national team. His previous experience includes nearly three years coaching in Egypt, where he achieved significant success at club level. He won two CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly, described as the African club of the century. That Egyptian experience could prove valuable as South Africa prepare to face Eritrea in Egypt on 30th September.
The coach inherits a team that made history under Broos by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Broos also guided South Africa to a bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire. Mosimane now takes over a squad that has scored two goals while conceding three in their current World Cup qualifying campaign, leaving them five points behind group leaders Mexico.
How will South Africa approach the September fixtures?
Bafana Bafana face a challenging schedule in late September. They host Guinea on Saturday, 26th September at a venue yet to be confirmed, though Gauteng and North West are believed to be leading options. The chosen stadium needs to be very close to OR Tambo International Airport because the team plans to fly to Egypt immediately after the match.
Three days later, on Wednesday, 30th September, South Africa will play Eritrea in Egypt. Eritrea cannot host matches at home because they lack stadiums compliant with CAF or FIFA standards, so they take their games to neutral venues in Morocco and Egypt. You can track South Africa's upcoming matches on our fixtures page.
Who are South Africa's opponents in Group C?
South Africa find themselves in a competitive qualifying group with Eritrea, Guinea, and Kenya. Only the group winner will qualify directly for the AFCON tournament, though Kenya's Harambee Stars have automatic qualification as co-hosts of the competition. Kenya are coached by former South African striker Benni McCarthy.
Eritrea, nicknamed the "Red Sea Camels," ended an 18-year absence from the AFCON earlier in 2026. They qualified by beating Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate in a preliminary stage, winning the first leg 2-0 in Morocco and the second leg 2-1 at Somhlolo stadium. Their 24-man squad for those matches included ten local players and expatriates based in Australia, Egypt, England, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, and Sweden.
What comes next for South Africa's World Cup campaign?
Mosimane's immediate task is to improve South Africa's position in the World Cup qualifying standings. The team's recent form of one win, two draws and two losses needs addressing as they trail Mexico by five points. With matches against Guinea and Eritrea approaching, the new coach must quickly implement his ideas.
The return to Egypt represents familiar territory for Mosimane, who enjoyed one of his most successful periods coaching there. South Africa will hope this familiarity provides an advantage against Eritrea. Fans can monitor the team's progress in the standings and check player availability on our injuries page as preparations intensify for these critical qualifiers.
