South Africa fullback Aubrey Modiba urged coach Hugo Broos to remain in charge of Bafana Bafana beyond the World Cup, saying the Belgian has transformed the national side and still has “unfinished business” at the Africa Cup of Nations, Modiba told ESPN.
Broos had been widely expected to leave his post after South Africa’s World Cup campaign, but cast fresh uncertainty on his future after the Last 32 defeat by Canada, refusing to make an immediate decision. “It’s not clever to take decisions when you’re disappointed,” he said after the loss, adding, “we’ll see in the next days what I’ll do for the future.” He also said, “For sure, this is my last World Cup.”
Broos oversaw South Africa’s first-ever run to the World Cup knockouts, but Stephen Eustáquio’s 91st-minute winner in Los Angeles on Sunday ended their campaign. Modiba said Broos has had a “very positive impact” and argued the coach has changed South African football, noting that the national side had not properly qualified for major tournaments before his tenure.
Broos previously won the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2017 and had indicated the World Cup would be his last before the tournament. He led Bafana to the semifinals of the 2024 AFCON in the Ivory Coast, South Africa’s best run in the competition since 2000, and the next AFCON is scheduled to be hosted by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in 12 months’ time.
Modiba said Broos has altered the team’s mentality and approach, adding that players now believe they can match any opponent. South Africa recovered from a 2-0 opening defeat by Mexico at the Estadio Azteca to draw Czechia 1-1 in Atlanta and then beat South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey before the loss to Canada, a match in which the report noted Bafana had superior possession that they did not fully exploit.
