Benni McCarthy Says Bafana Could Have Gone Further at the World Cup Under Pitso

Benni McCarthy believes South Africa’s national team might have achieved more at the 2026 FIFA World Cup if Pitso Mosimane had been in charge. Bafana Bafana reached the Round of 32 under Hugo Broos, but McCarthy says Mosimane’s leadership could have helped the side progress further. Speaking before Kenya’s match against South Africa, McCarthy praised the atmosphere around Bafana and said the players now appear to perform with greater freedom. He pointed to Mosimane’s familiarity with South African football and culture as a key part of what he sees as the team’s progress. McCarthy said he was not trying to criticise Broos or dismiss the work done by the previous coach. Instead, he suggested that some players had seemed tense and nervous when representing the country at the tournament, while the current team appeared more relaxed and confident. The Kenya coach said he was pleased to see the direction Bafana had taken and hoped their progress would continue. He also expressed the wish that the team would enjoy lasting success under Mosimane. His comments offered a public endorsement of the current coach while revisiting what South Africa might have achieved at the World Cup under different leadership.