Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana Return Sets Up Intriguing Benni McCarthy Showdown
- Pitso Mosimane’s return to Bafana Bafana will bring an intriguing coaching battle against another South African football legend later this year
- The new Bafana Bafana coach faces a demanding start to his second permanent stint, with crucial AFCON qualifiers already lined up
- November’s fixtures could provide one of the most fascinating moments of Mosimane’s early return, with the 2 coaches set to meet twice in 4 days
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Twitter
Pitso Mosimane’s return to the Bafana Bafana hot seat will quickly put him on a collision course with Benni McCarthy, with the South African coaches set to face each other twice in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has appointed Mosimane as Hugo Broos’ successor, handing him a demanding start to his third spell with the national team. SAFA confirmed the appointment on 1 September 2026.
Pitso Mosimane faces Benni McCarthy
The South African reports that Mosimane’s first competitive assignment will be against Guinea on 23 September, followed by Eritrea on 27 September at a neutral venue.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
The November window, however, is where the storyline becomes particularly interesting.
Bafana Bafana will host Kenya on 11 November before travelling to face McCarthy’s Harambee Stars on 15 November. The two South African coaches will therefore meet twice within four days.
Source: Twitter
Bafana Bafana face crucial AFCON test
The stakes are high for Mosimane. Kenya are co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON and qualify automatically, leaving only one remaining qualification place in the group.
Mosimane has acknowledged the responsibility that comes with returning to the national team, saying:
“I have been given the privilege of leading our national team again.”
He added that he understood the “weight of this role” and accepted the challenge “with pride and determination”.
For Bafana, the November double-header could prove crucial in shaping the campaign's direction.
Mosimane’s Bafana setup raises another talking point
Briefly News previously reported that Pitso Mosimane has already made some significant changes to his Bafana Bafana technical team following his return to the national side.
One notable decision involved Helman Mkhalele, who was part of Hugo Broos’ setup. Mosimane has since explained his thinking behind the decision, using an unexpected example from one of football’s biggest coaching names.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
