In a bold declaration, Hugo Broos, head coach of the South African national football team, has expressed his ambition to lead Bafana Bafana to the 2026 FIFA World Cup before retiring from coaching. The Belgian tactician, who turned 73 this year, sees this opportunity as the perfect culmination of his illustrious career in football.
Broos, who previously played in a World Cup and has extensive coaching experience, stated, "I want to be there as a coach too. Next year, I'll be 74 it would be the perfect way to end my career." His determination is fueled by the upcoming qualification matches against formidable opponents including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho. Each game represents a critical step toward achieving his dream of World Cup participation.
Under Broos' leadership, Bafana Bafana has shown significant improvement, recently qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and demonstrating strong performances in their World Cup qualifying campaign. The team has garnered attention for its youthful energy and tactical prowess, setting high expectations for their future matches.