Hugo Broos has built his Bafana Bafana legacy and earned his retirement

After leading Bafana Bafana to their best-ever FIFA World Cup performance, Hugo Broos has built a lasting legacy in South African football and deserves to retire on a high. Picture: ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP

At Bafana Bafana’s welcome party at OR Tambo International on Thursday, Hugo Broos once again confirmed he would be considering his future with the national team.

The big goal for Broos had always been qualifying Bafana for the FIFA World Cup. He achieved that and more. Not only did Bafana qualify for the tournament for the first time since the 2002 edition, they also reached the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

The teams of 1998 and 2002 are widely regarded as the golden generation of South African football, a period that began with their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) triumph in 1996. Yet neither side managed to make it out of the group stage at the World Cup.

Fast forward to 2026, and Bafana exceeded expectations by finishing second in their group, thanks in large part to their shock 1-0 victory over South Korea in their final pool match.