South Africa tactician Hugo Broos stands out among the 24 coaches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – he is the only one to have won the competition.
Now a 73-year-old grandfather, the Belgian triumphed in 2017 with a Cameroon team that overcame the pre-tournament loss of several unavailable stars to beat Egypt in the final in Libreville.
He hopes to match French coach Herve Renard, the only one to win the competition with different nations. He succeeded with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast three years later.
Broos was back at the premier African sport event last year with South Africa, and they exceeded expectations in Ivory Coast by finishing third.
South Africa, who often failed to qualify for the AFCON during the past decade, will face Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group B.
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While many South African supporters believe Bafana Bafana can win the competition for the first time since 1996, Broos has sounded a note of caution.
"Last year we were not among the favourites and lost our opening match to Mali," the former Belgium World Cup defender told reporters.
"There were suggestions on social media from some South Africans that the pilot of our jet should keep the engine running because we would soon be heading home.
"Well, the engine had to be turned off because we went all the way to the semifinals, where we lost to Nigeria on penalties. We then beat the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties to finish third.
"Because we were the bronze medallists a year ago, our opponents will be extremely motivated to beat us."
Broos is widely regarded as the best South Africa coach since local Clive Barker, who masterminded the 1996 AFCON triumph, and qualification for the 1998 World Cup only to be fired before the tournament.
Not only has the Belgian taken South Africa to successive AFCONs, he also secured a place at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and a European team in Group A.
'INTENSE PRESSURE'
Broos considers the first AFCON group match against Angola in Marrakesh critical to their chances of going far in Morocco.
"Losing your first group match, as we did last year to Mali, puts you under immediate intense pressure.
"Your second match becomes a must-win affair and, fortunately, we did that last year by beating Namibia.
"Were we to fail against Angola, we would then need to beat Egypt, a nation that has been champions a record seven times, and is led by Mohamed Salah.
"We dare not underestimate Zimbabwe either. They may be the lowest ranked of the teams in our section, but they always raise their game against us."
Broos is one of seven coaches from the 2024 AFCON who will be in Morocco for a tournament that kicks off on Sunday with the host nation favoured to be crowned champions a second time.
Frenchman Sebastien Desabre of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chiquinho Conde of Mozambique, Juan Micha of Equatorial Guinea and Walid Regragui of Morocco are with the same teams.
Belgian Tom Saintfiet has switched from Gambia to Mali and Ivory Coast-born Eric Chelle from Mali to Nigeria.
There will be three Belgian coaches in Morocco – Broos, Saintfiet and Paul Put with Uganda. France and the Ivory Coast have two each.
Broos was the last European coach to win the AFCON with Algerian Djamel Belmadi, Senegalese Aliou Cisse and Ivorian Emerse Fae winning the three subsequent editions.
There will be 14 African coaches at the 2025 tournament, nine from Europe and Argentine Miguel Gamondi with Tanzania representing South America.
The odds are stacked against Gamondi emerging victorious as only one South American coach – Brazilian Otto Gloria with Nigeria in 1980 – has won the AFCON in 34 previous editions.
Egyptian and French coaches have been the most successful with five titles each, including three in a row for Hassan Shehata from 2006.