Hugo Broos has refused to confirm whether Sunday’s heartbreaking FIFA World Cup exit against Canada marked the end of his time as South Africa head coach, insisting he will only decide his future once the disappointment has subsided.
Bafana Bafana’s historic World Cup campaign came to an agonizing conclusion after Stephen Eustáquio’s stoppage-time winner handed Canada a 1-0 victory in the Round of 32.
Although Broos had repeatedly stated before the tournament that this would be his final World Cup with South Africa, the 74-year-old Belgian declined to clarify whether he would immediately step away from the national team.
“I think first of all it’s not clever to take decisions when you are disappointed, so I will not do it either,” Broos told reporters after the match.
Asked directly whether he would remain in charge through the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the veteran coach again kept his cards close to his chest.
“I said always yes, this is my last World Cup, that is for sure,” Broos said.
“But what will happen in the next days and weeks depends also a little bit on how South Africa sees the future and with me then. We will see.
“Again, I will not answer on that question for the moment.”
The comments leave SAFA facing uncertainty over the immediate future of the national team just months before the next AFCON qualifying campaign begins.
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Despite the late defeat, Broos expressed pride in what his players achieved, describing South Africa’s first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds as one of the finest accomplishments of his coaching career.
“It was 24 years ago that South Africa could qualify for the World Cup. We did it,” he said.
“Everyone hoped, and some expected, that we should achieve the second round. We did it also.
“So, okay, we are disappointed because we wanted to win, but we don’t have to be too disappointed. What we did was good and I’m very happy and very proud of my team.”
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Broos, who guided Cameroon to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations title before taking charge of Bafana Bafana in 2021, said he would reflect carefully before making any announcement on his future. His tenure has transformed South Africa from World Cup absentees into one of Africa’s surprise packages, culminating in a historic Round of 32 appearance at the expanded 2026 tournament.
