MY CUP IS FULL

HUGO Broos will walk away from Bafana Bafana after the 2026 World Cup, ending a tenure that has restored belief, pride and purpose in South African football.

The 73-year-old Belgian coach confirmed his decision after guiding Bafana to a 3-0 win over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday – a result that, combined with Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Benin in Uyo, sealed Bafana’s passage to next year’s global showpiece.

Broos’ manne topped Group C after a gruelling qualification campaign, finishing a point ahead of Nigeria and Benin. 

The Super Eagles’ emphatic victory may have earned them an unlikely playoff lifeline, but it was Bafana who emerged as the group’s dominant force – resilient, organised, and consistent from start to finish. And for Broos, qualification marks both a personal and professional milestone. 

The veteran coach revealed that the World Cup in 2026 will be his last act in football – a fitting final chapter to a kwaai career spanning over five decades as a player and coach.

Broos wysed after the final whistle: “Don’t ask me how my emotions are because I don’t have words for that at the moment. I hoped more than anyone that we would qualify, so it’s a very sentimental moment.

“I was at a World Cup as a player towards the end of my career and now I do it again. I think it’s the right moment next year, after the World Cup, to stop my career and enjoy the next 20 years with my children and my grandchildren.

“But first of all, we’ve got some work to do, and we’ll try to do it well.”

Broos’ journey with SA has not always been smooth. 

From criticism over squad selections to debates about his outspoken nature, the Belgian has often stood alone in his convictions. Yet, his methods have delivered results since he took charge in 2021.

For a country that once yearned to return to football’s grandest stage, Broos’ leadership has delivered more than just qualification – it has reignited a dream.

And when he finally walks away after the World Cup, he will do so having restored hope where it had long been lost.