TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025: Know the Coach: Hugo Broos (South Africa)
Fact File
Name: Hugo Broos
Place of birth: Belgium
Age: 72
Current Team: South Africa
Tenure: 2021 – to date
Career Highlights
Broos has enjoyed an exceptionally good coaching career, both at club and national team level.
As club coach, the Belgian won the Coach of the Year award four times, twice with Club Brugge (1992, 1996) as well as once with Anderlecht in 2004 and Genk in 2007.
At national team level, he guided Cameroon to their fifth TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title in 2017 in Gabon.
Coaching Style
Broos’ unique ability to get the best out of young and inexperienced players with Bafana Bafana also earned him recognition at the recent CAF Awards were he was shortlisted.
He has a knack for selecting the not so popular players who return his favour to him with exceptional performances.
A father figure and motivator of note, Broos’ influence at Bafana Bafana has reaped exceptional rewards for the team that finished third in Cote d’Ivoire.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Experience
With very little chance given to Cameroon, Hugo Broos guided the Indomitable Lions to their fifth continental title.
Broos has been one of the stand-out performers of the competition, securing podium finishes in both appearances with gold for Cameroon in 2017 and a bronze medal for South Africa in 2023.
Impact on South Africa
Despite being doubted at first, the Belgian tactician has officially won the hearts of South Africans.
Bafana Bafana though consisting of locally based players under Broos has risen to great heights once again with solid performances that have instilled a sense of belief once again for the 1996 champions.
The team is now playing with confidence, with all the new players comfortably slotting into the coach’s playing style.
Fun Fact
This will be coach Hugo Broos’ third TotalEnergies CAF AFCON finals appearance, with the previous two both seeing the Belgian secure podium finishes with Cameroon (2017 Gold) and South Africa (2023 Bronze).
Conclusion
In Broos, Bafana Bafana have a coach who has learnt how to play and win in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
A bold tactician not afraid of placing his trust in his players, Bafana Bafana go into the competition under the tutelage of one of the best coaches at the tournament.