It’s well known that the curtains will come down on Hugo Broos’ Bafana stint after the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America.
And so, with barely a few months before that happens, the burning question remains: who will succeed the silver-haired Belgian and build on the foundation he has laid during his five-year spell with Bafana? Well, that remains to be seen.
If it were up to him, Broos would hand over the baton to his right-hand man Helman Mkhalele, who has experience, knows South African football with its pros and cons, and is familiar with the ins and outs of the team after being part of Broos’ backroom staff from day one.
But it’s not in Broos’ hands, nor those of the association, Safa, to appoint Mkhalele as the new Bafana coach in winter. Mkhalele does not have the required credentials to lead the national team, having only just enrolled for his CAF A coaching licence with the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA).
Enter Sébastien Desabre. Many pundits and followers of Desabre’s African journey since 2010 are campaigning for the 49-year-old to succeed Broos at Bafana – a push that has gained momentum since he guided DR Congo to the intercontinental World Cup play-offs in March after beating Nigeria in the CAF play-offs final on Sunday night.
Desabre may be receiving plaudits for transforming the Leopards since taking over in 2022, but his stint in African football stretches far and wide, having worked on the continent since 2010.
Before bursting onto international football with Uganda in 2017, the Frenchman worked in inter-club football, coaching sides such as ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), Coton Sport (Cameroon), Recreativo Desportivo do Libolo (Angola), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Ismaily (Egypt), and the Cranes.
Having coached across the continent, Desabre’s tenure with DR Congo marks his 11th coaching stint in Africa, where he has spent 15 years building a storied legacy in African football.
And in doing exactly that, Desabre has shown tactical experience and no-nonsense nous that has played a pivotal role in returning the Leopards to continental prominence.
Congo qualified outright for the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco next month after finishing top of their group with 12 points, following four wins and two losses.
And that’s not all. While they will have to take the long route to qualify for the global showpiece, they missed out on automatic qualification by a whisker after finishing second in their group behind log-leaders Senegal.
Sure, their shortcomings showed that they are still behind Bafana in terms of growth and improvement – Bafana having been unbeaten en route to the continental showpiece and qualifying automatically for the global showpiece after shrugging off pressure from runners-up Nigeria.
Still, there’s a clear indication of the direction the team has taken since Desabre took charge. Of all the Europe-based players who could have reconsidered changing to DR Congo nationality after the team’s recent trajectory, only Aaron Wan-Bissaka was admitted into the team after swapping his English nationality for his native DR Congo.
And that aligns with one of the principles Broos has applied at Bafana. Knowing how much hard work and determination it has taken for the team to climb back to being one of the best in African football – a foundation built largely around local talent – Broos has closed the door on Europe-based players who suddenly want to ride on Bafana’s newly found success.
So, given Desabre’s expertise in inter-club football, where he enjoyed considerable success, it shouldn’t take long for him to follow in Broos’ footsteps by nurturing and promoting local talent. After all, PSL teams have been regulars in continental competitions, with Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stellenbosch carrying the league’s flag this season.
It may seem there is still enough time before Broos finally leaves our shores to return to Belgium and enjoy a well-deserved retirement with his family, but there isn’t. That’s why Safa must start preparing for life after him. And according to some, Desabre is the suitable candidate to replace him. Whether that assumption is correct – and whether Safa will follow suit – remains a mystery for now.
