The clash will mark the 73-year-old Belgian’s 50th match in charge of the South African senior men’s national team, further cementing his status as the longest-serving head coach in Bafana Bafana history.

It has been a long and often testing journey at the helm, but Broos’ tenure began on a positive note and has steadily gathered momentum over more than four years. Appointed by the South African Football Association (SAFA) on 5 May 2021, the Belgian arrived with a clear mandate to rebuild belief and restore consistency.

Hugo Broos. Photo: Morgan Piek

Just over a month later, on 10 June 2021, Broos took his place in the dugout for the first time at Orlando Stadium, where Bafana Bafana edged Uganda 3–2 in an international friendly. That result set the tone for a steady rise, and more than four years on, Broos now stands on the brink of a half-century of matches with the 1996 AFCON champions.

Heading into the Angola encounter, Broos has overseen 49 matches, during which Bafana Bafana have made notable strides both on and off the pitch. When he arrived, South Africa were ranked 75th in the FIFA standings; today they sit 61st, with the top 50 firmly within reach.

The upward trajectory was underlined at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast in 2024, where Bafana Bafana claimed a historic bronze medal, rekindling pride and belief across the footballing nation.

Hugo Broos. Photo: Morgan Piek

Broos and his squad raised the bar even higher in October 2025 by qualifying for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026 – a landmark achievement that signalled South Africa’s return to the global stage.

On a personal level, Broos reached another milestone on 5 May 2025, when he equalled the late Clive Barker’s record as Bafana Bafana’s longest-serving coach after completing four years in charge. Barker famously guided South Africa to their maiden AFCON title in 1996 and served from 1 January 1994 to 1 January 1998. Broos has now gone beyond that mark, standing alone at the top.

Most importantly, Bafana Bafana have become a side to be reckoned with once more. Broos’ record of 24 wins, 19 draws and just six defeats ranks among the most impressive in the national team’s history. Along the way, there have been standout performances, including emphatic 4–0 victories over Sierra Leone and Namibia, as well as a ruthless 5–0 demolition of Congo Brazzaville in an AFCON qualifier.

Hugo Broos. Photo: Morgan Piek

While Broos has indicated that he plans to step down after the World Cup, his focus remains firmly on the task at hand. If his tenure to date is anything to go by, there is every reason for South Africans to believe that Bafana Bafana will rise to the occasion in Morocco – and head to the World Cup brimming with confidence and belief.

Monday's nights' Group B game between Bafana Bafana and Palancas Negras at Grand Stade de Marrakech will kick-off at 19:00.

Overall Record

Matches: 49
Wins: 24
Draws: 19
Losses: 6
Goals scored: 75

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek