Hugo Broos said he was going to retire. Then South Africa reached the last 32 of the World Cup for the first time ever, and suddenly retirement doesn't look quite so appealing.
The 74-year-old Belgian's contract expires at the end of July after five years in charge of Bafana Bafana, but SAFA president Danny Jordaan made clear on Thursday — as the squad landed back in Johannesburg — that conversations are coming before anyone closes any doors.
"We need to talk to Hugo Broos, and we will let you know after that conversation," Jordaan said. "It is a confidential one, a private one."
What the World Cup actually proved
South Africa went to this tournament and beat the round of 32 barrier that had previously defined the ceiling of their ambition. Losing to co-hosts Canada in the last 32 stings, but context matters — this squad punched above its weight getting there at all.
That changes Broos's leverage considerably. He arrived in 2020 to rebuild a team that hadn't qualified for a World Cup since 2010. He leaves — or doesn't — having delivered genuine progress. SAFA would be taking a real gamble replacing him now, and the market for coaches who understand African football at this level isn't deep.
Jordaan is clearly aware of that. His language was careful but pointed: "we are hopeful that we'll continue on this upward trend." That's not the phrasing of a federation preparing to move on.
What comes next matters too
South Africa's next assignment is AFCON 2027 qualifying, starting in September. They've been drawn with Kenya, Guinea and Eritrea — a manageable group, but one that needs a settled setup and someone who knows the players. Disrupting the coaching structure right now carries real risk.
Jordaan also flagged hopes that several players from this squad attract moves abroad off the back of the tournament. If that happens, whoever is coaching Bafana Bafana in September needs to know how to integrate returning players back into a domestic-based squad. Broos already knows how. A replacement wouldn't.
The smart money says he stays. But the conversation hasn't happened yet.
