Portuguese Manager Ready to Takeover From Broos As Bafana Awaits FIFA's Verdict
- A Portuguese manager praises Hugo Broos for his successful work with South Africa, including AFCON qualification and positioning for the 2026 World Cup
- The former Togo coach admits that coaching Bafana Bafana would be a privilege if the opportunity arises, but stresses he is not looking to replace Broos soon
- He also acknowledges South Africa’s strong team and the high-quality players they have
An experienced Portuguese coach has declared himself ready to take over from Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana's head coach as he has what it takes to take South Africa to greater heights when the Belgian manager leaves the post.
Broos has done well since being named Bafana Bafana's head coach in 2021 and made SA one of the best national teams in Africa.
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Bafana Bafana finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and will be participating in the next edition in Morocco later this year.
South Africa also currently tops their group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage with 13 points, five points ahead of second place Rwanda.
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There are concerns about Broos' future as Bafana Bafana coach as the former Club Brugge manager might decide to quit after the World Cup next year.
Portuguese coach ready to replace Broos
With talks about Broos' future as Bafana Bafana coach still ongoing, there's an European manager who is already eyeing the Belgian's post.
Paulo Duarte, who once coached Togo and Burkina Faso, has come out to offer himself for the Bafana Bafana job if the 72-year-old finally decides to leave.
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Duarte in an exclusive chat with GOAL said Broos is one of the coaches he respects so much and acknowledged the job he's done as South Africa men's national team coach.
"Hugo Broos is a manager I have a lot of respect for, and it wouldn't be the right thing to do for me to say that I could replace him," he shared with GOAL.
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"Right now, I’m focused on making the right decisions for my career, looking for a solid project that truly motivates and excites me.
"Hugo Broos has done an excellent job with South Africa. They’ve secured their AFCON qualification and are in a strong position for the 2026 World Cup. South Africa will always be a respected side, with players of great quality.
"That said, I can’t deny that if the opportunity to coach Bafana Bafana ever came my way, it would be an incredible privilege."
Paulo Duarte seeks new challenge
In 2017, Paulo Duarte led Burkina Faso's national football team to a historic third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations. They secured the bronze medal by defeating Ghana 1-0, with Alain Traoré scoring a decisive free-kick in the 89th minute.
Duarte's last coaching job was in Saudi Arabia with Al Kholood in 2024. He was however dismissed after just seven league games and is now without a club.
Before joining Al Kholood, he spent nearly three years with Togo from 2021 to 2024.
The Portuguese manager has now expressed his openness to new coaching opportunities in an interview with Burkinabe outlet Sidwaya published on February 26, 2025.
He stated: "For almost four months, I have been at home enjoying my family. I am a free coach and I remain open to new opportunities whether in Africa, Europe, or Asia."
Duarte conveyed his interest through public statements in interviews with the media outlet. He highlighted his readiness to embark on a new coaching challenge and specifically mentioned his willingness to consider positions in Africa, Europe, or Asia
Bafana Bafana await FIFA verdicts
South Africa are still waiting for FIFA's verdict concerning fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.
Bafana Bafana are expected to have three points deducted from their points in the qualifying stage if they are found guilty of breaking the world football governing body rule.
The three point deduction could severely impact Bafana Bafana's chances of qualifying for the World Cup in 2026 and sources claim that Broos is considering leaving his role as the team's head coach if they fail to qualify for the tournament.
The Belgian manager is reportedly not happy about the whole incident as it could have been avoided, which has invariably given their bitter rival Nigeria an unfair advantage to catch up with them.
Bafana Bafana move up on latest FIFA ranking
Briefly News also reported that Bafana Bafana move up in the latest rankings FIFA released for the month of March.
South Africa still maintain their position as one of the top 10 national teams in Africa.
Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article
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Source: Briefly News
