From ‘bunch of losers’ to being ‘one of the best teams in Africa’ - Hugo Broos’ remarkable Bafana Bafana transformation as Fifa World Cup dream edges closer to becoming reality

Upon his appointment in 2021, the 72-year-old coach was tasked with the responsibility of restoring competitiveness to the national team after two decades of mediocrity.

And the Afcon-winning coach wasted little time making his intentions clear, getting rid of established players in favour of younger talent.

Bafana stars like Itumeleng Khune, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Andile Jali, Thulani Serero, Bongani Zungu and many others, were shown the exit door in a brutal clearout.

As expected, Broos’ overhaul was met with plenty of scepticism and huge criticism, but the Belgian was unshaken as he remained true to his ideals.

Young players such as Evidence Makgopa, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, and more recently, Relebohile Mofokeng have been the beneficiaries of Broos’ heavy reliance on youth.

This is an approach that has proven fruitful for Bafana, who have looked to play without fear and egos since Broos’ first match in charge.

During his early days as Bafana coach, Broos came extremely close to guiding South Africa to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers playoffs.

Bafana, who last featured at the global showpiece in 2010 when they were hosts, fell agonizingly short as they were controversially foiled by Ghana.

Broos, though, was only getting started as he went on to lead Bafana to their best finish at the Afcon in 25 years as they bagged bronze in Ivory Coast in 2024.

Bafana walked away from that tournament a completely different side to the one that entered it, they were a team oozing self-belief, a team with personality.

And now, they have safely negotiated qualification to this year’s Afcon and are also looking good to make it to the next World Cup.

There’s no doubt, South Africa is a football-crazy nation.

However, the SA national team has not always been the country’s darling, with that title firmly belonging to the national rugby team, the Springboks.

But thanks to the massive improvement under Broos, Bafana are working their way back into the hearts of Mzansi.

This has been evident in many of Bafana’s home matches of late, with fans filling up the stadiums whenever Broos’ boys are in town.

Bafana recently defeated Lesotho in a Fifa World Cup qualifier in front of a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

As things stand in the qualifiers,  Broos’ Bafana have a wonderful opportunity to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals.

They are currently perched atop the Group C standings with 10 points from five matches, two clear of second-placed Benin, whom they face next.

Broos’ side swatted aside Lesotho last time out and now have their sights set on Benin ahead of their meeting at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny on Tuesday.

The World Cup dream is promising to become a reality and Bafana only needs to hold their nerve and maintain their performances so far.

After becoming the first coach to help Bafana qualify for back-to-back Acons in South African football history, Broos is confident he can add World Cup qualification to his list of achievements.

“If you ask me now, are you going to qualify for the World Cup, I can say yes because it’s a football game and you never know what is gonna happen in the football game but I’m confident that we can do it,” Broos told media.

Broos’ transformation of the national team has not gone unnoticed, especially by his peers, who continue to show great admiration and respect.

One of those, Leslie Notsi, who is the coach of Lesotho, Bafana’s latest opponents, insists the Belgian is making good progress.

Notsi has played against different Bafana teams in previous years and is impressed by how Broos has transformed this team.

"Tactically, they have improved a lot and there's a lot of speed that they play with and the team that they have, the core of the team when you look at it, you see it is made up of teams that are doing very well internationally in the CAF Champions League,” Notsi said.

“So, the exposure that they've had and the manner in which they conduct themselves in their respective clubs you'd expect to have to have a team like the current one and the self-belief is there which is something that has always been there for the South African national teams and I think again the contribution also of the technical team it's also making the team thrive."

• Bafana Bafana
• Lesotho handled, now for Benin
• Broos reveals main reason behind are sold-out stadiums