South Africa's football association has turned to a familiar face to lead the national team into its next chapter, confirming the reappointment of Pitso Mosimane as head coach of Bafana Bafana.
The 62-year-old, who first held the position more than a decade ago between July 2010 and June 2012, takes over from Hugo Broos. The Belgian departed the role after his contract expired at the end of July, bringing to a close a five-year tenure that delivered some of the country's most notable recent achievements on the international stage.
Under Broos, South Africa secured a third-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the round of 32 at this year's World Cup, marking the nation's return to football's biggest tournament for the first time since it hosted the event in 2010.
Mosimane's return was given the green light by the South African Football Association's executive committee on 8 August, though the appointment was only made public once his contract terms and coaching staff had been finalised. He was formally introduced to the media at an event in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Details regarding the duration of his new deal have not been disclosed.
The veteran coach's first spell in charge of the national side ended in disappointing circumstances. South Africa missed out on qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after the team believed, incorrectly, that a draw against Sierra Leone in their final group match would be sufficient to progress to the finals. Mosimane left his post the following year, in June 2012, following a 1-1 draw at home to Ethiopia in a qualifier for the 2014 World Cup.
Since his departure from the Bafana Bafana job, Mosimane has built a reputation as one of the continent's most successful club coaches. He enjoyed a highly productive period at Mamelodi Sundowns before moving to Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, where he continued to add to his trophy collection. Across his time with both clubs, he claimed the African Champions League title on three separate occasions, cementing his status as one of Africa's premier managerial talents.
His coaching journey has since taken him beyond the African continent, with stints in charge of clubs in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Iran, broadening his experience across different football cultures and competitive environments before this return to international management.
The appointment represents a significant shift in direction for South African football, with the federation opting for continuity of a different kind — bringing back a coach with deep domestic roots and a proven track record of silverware, rather than continuing with a foreign appointment in the mould of Broos.
Mosimane now faces the challenge of building on the foundations laid by his predecessor, who guided the national team to a level of consistency and tournament success that had eluded Bafana Bafana for years. With World Cup qualification restored to the national conversation and expectations rising following the team's Afcon and World Cup exploits, the pressure will be on Mosimane to maintain that momentum.
Attention will now turn to the makeup of his technical team and his selection choices as he prepares to steer South Africa through upcoming qualifying campaigns and continental competitions, with fans eager to see whether his second spell in charge can surpass the abrupt end of his first.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.