Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has been overlooked for the Bafana Bafana job after the South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed Pitso Mosimane as the new national team coach.
McCarthy had openly expressed his desire to take charge of his native country, with the Harambee Stars coach previously admitting he would gladly accept the opportunity if it came his way.Speaking to Kick Off Magazine earlier this year, the former Manchester United forwards’ coach said:##NAJAVA_MECA_9928331##“I think a lot of people will be interested in the job coaching Bafana.
But if I’m asked, of course I would. It’s my country. It’s the national team.”McCarthy also believed the current generation of South African players had the quality to deliver success.“It’s a very good time to achieve things with this group of players, with the calibre and quality that they have,” he added.
However, his hopes of succeeding Hugo Broos have now been dashed after SAFA approved Mosimane’s appointment.SAFA president Danny Jordaan confirmed the decision following an Extraordinary National Executive Committee meeting, with Mosimane set to take over from Broos, who exited after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.“The NEC has approved the appointment of coach Pitso to Bafana Bafana, but we still need to tie up some loose ends.
We will make a formal announcement of the coach next week,” Jordaan said.Four Kenyan officials earn prestigious CAF Champions League assignmentMosimane will be joined by Kabelo Rangoaga and Musi Matlaba in his technical team, with another assistant coach still to be confirmed.The appointment also received strong backing from South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who had publicly endorsed Mosimane as his preferred candidate for the position.Speaking on SABC TV, McKenzie dismissed suggestions that SAFA was considering several candidates and insisted Mosimane was the right man for the job.
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“Pitso got many job offers, but I told him, ‘Don’t take them.’ We need Pitso Mosimane now. That man has a plan.”McCarthy, who took charge of Harambee Stars in March 2025, will now continue his work with Kenya as Mosimane begins his second stint in charge of South Africa.Mosimane’s first assignment will come later this month when South Africa face Guinea and Eritrea in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with the tournament set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.