How Hugo Broos’ High Demands and Tunisia’s Political Chaos Stopped Him From Becoming Their Coach After Bafana’s Afcon Success

Bafana Bafana’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign in Ivory Coast surprised many, with South Africa finishing third in the tournament. Their strong performance led to speculation that coach Hugo Broos would be snapped up by Tunisia, who were looking for a new manager after their embarrassing group-stage exit. However, as revealed by Chedli Rahmani, the then-chairman of Tunisia’s Fifa Normalisation Committee, the deal never materialized due to a combination of financial demands and political chaos within the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF).

Bafana Bafana’s Unexpected Success

Heading into the tournament as underdogs, Bafana Bafana exceeded expectations by securing a bronze medal in the third-place play-off, outperforming teams like Tunisia, Ghana, and Algeria, who all failed to progress past the group stage. This strong showing caught the attention of several football associations, including Tunisia’s, who were keen on bringing Broos onboard after the resignation of their coach, Jalel Kadri, following the team’s poor performance.

The Tunisia Offer

With South Africa’s success under Broos, the Tunisian Football Federation saw the Belgian as a potential candidate to lead their national team. However, despite the interest, Broos remained focused on his work with Bafana Bafana, denying rumors that he was set to take over in Tunisia.

Financial and Political Complications

The offer from Tunisia became more complicated due to the political instability within the Tunisian Football Federation. At the time, the FTF was under a Caretaker Committee, with elections for a new board yet to be scheduled, leading to an uncertain administrative environment.

Furthermore, Broos had specific demands regarding his staff. The Tunisian FA was reportedly unwilling to meet the financial requirements set by the Belgian coach, which included a substantial annual budget for his entire coaching team. According to Rahmani, “Broos wanted to bring his entire staff, and it would cost us 2.9 million euros per year. We don’t have that budget.”

What’s Next for Broos and Bafana Bafana?

After resolving internal issues with the South African Football Association (Safa), Broos continued his tenure with Bafana Bafana, helping them secure qualification for the 2025 Afcon in Morocco. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set to resume in March 2025, Broos’ next challenge will be to guide South Africa back to the World Cup, as the country has not participated since hosting the tournament in 2010.

While the move to Tunisia never materialized, Broos remains committed to his role with South Africa, where his next focus will be ensuring Bafana Bafana’s continued success on the international stage.