SAFA Dismisses Claims Hugo Broos Has Stepped Down

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has dismissed reports claiming that Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has stepped down.

SAFA labelled the rumours as false, noting that similar speculation surfaced after South Africa’s successful 2024 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Broos recently guided Bafana Bafana to a historic feat at the FIFA World Cup after they reached the knockout stages for the first-time ever. cricket-ipl.co.za

SAFA has since confirmed that the Belgian remains in charge of the senior men’s national team as he is currently on leave in Belgium before returning to South Africa later this month.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) has dismissed claims that mentor Hugo Broos has left his role as the head coach of the South African senior men’s national team.

“Broos remains as the head coach of Bafana Bafana and reports claiming the contrary are completely false. It is not the first time that the Belgian mentor is being linked to an exit shortly after the South African senior men’s national team has performed well at an international tournament. In March 2024 Broos was said to be joining the Tunisian national team a few weeks after Bafana Bafana had won bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

“Broos returned with the team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup a few days ago after making history in the global showpiece currently underway in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada. Bafana Bafana qualified for the second round of the tournament for the first time ever after beating South Korea 1-0 in the last group match in Monterrey, Mexico.

“The coach is currently at home in Belgium and will return to South Africa later this month.”

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L'épidémie de maladie à virus Ebola, officiellement déclarée le 15 mai en République Démocratique du Congo, se propage plus rapidement qu'aucune autre auparavant, selon l'agence de santé de l'Union africaine. D'après les chiffres de l'OMS, au moins 600 personnes sur les 1 759 cas confirmés sont mortes. Parmi ces victimes, de nombreux parents qui laissent parfois des enfants seuls et démunis. Rencontre avec certains de ces orphelins dans la ville de Bunia.

A place in the semifinals will be on the line when Norway and England lock horns in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at Miami Stadium on Saturday. Both sides arrive full of confidence after navigating difficult Round of 16 encounters and will be eager to take another step toward football’s biggest prize.

The Vikings have already claimed one major scalp by ousting five-time champions Brazil in the previous round – can they now end the dreams of the Three Lions, who showed their hunger for World Cup success by overcoming co-hosts Mexico this past weekend? Here’s the breakdown as Norway and England battle in ‘Miami Vice’.

Head-to-head

Matches played 12

Norway wins 2

England wins 7

Draws 3

Norway goals 7

England goals 28

Norway and England have met in 12 previous matches, with the Three Lions claiming seven wins compared to two for the Vikings, while three games have been drawn. The teams’ most recent clash was a friendly at Wembley Stadium in 2014 which England won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Wayne Rooney.

Players to watch

Norway – Erling Haaland

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 4

– Goals: 7

– Assists: 1

– Yellow/red cards: 0/0

Erling Haaland has further underlined his reputation as perhaps the best outright No.9 in world football, scoring seven goals in just four games at the global tournament – including a brace of goals to secure the Vikings a famous win over Brazil.

England – Harry Kane

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 5

– Goals: 6

– Assists: 1

– Yellow/red cards: 0/0

Harry Kane is England’s captain, highest scorer and all-round clutch player – without him, the Three Lions would already have gone home. The Bayern Munich forward will look to outshine Erling Haaland and take his team to the semifinals.

Key stats

– 51.4 – Erling Haaland has averaged a goal every 51.4 minutes at the World Cup.

– 9 – Norway have conceded nine goals in five matches at the World Cup.

– 3 – Mexico had not conceded a single goal at the World Cup until they ran into England and shipped three inside an hour.

– 73 – Harry Kane has scored an astonishing 73 goals in the 2025-26 season for club and country.

Tactical battle

Ståle Solbakken’s Norway arrive with a pragmatic, adaptable structure, typically a flexible 4-3-3 that becomes more direct and physical in key moments, especially through set-pieces and Erling Haaland’s presence. Their recent win over Brazil underlined Solbakken’s in-game adaptability and reliance on vertical transitions and late attacking surges.

Thomas Tuchel’s England, meanwhile, emphasise tactical flexibility, using wide overloads and a crossing-heavy approach to break compact defences, while remaining willing to make bold positional switches mid-game. The battle hinges on whether Norway’s structure and aerial threat can disrupt England’s fluid attacking patterns and territorial control.

Broadcast details

Times CAT

Saturday 11 July

23:00: Quarterfinal 3 – Norway v England – Live on SuperSport World Cup Central

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Kaizer Chiefs were due to arrive in Spain on Friday for a pre-season tour that will involve three friendly matches.

Chiefs’ three friendlies

Amakhosi will play Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers on Sunday, and will then play Saudi Pro League side Al Kholood on July 15. They will finish their tour off with a game against Spanish LaLiga side Elche CF on July 18.

The Rangers game will be played behind closed doors but the matches against Al Kholood and Elche CF are open to the public.

The pre-season will give neew head coach Fernando Da Cruz the chance to put his squad through their paces.

Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele did not travel with the squad, with SABC Sport reporting that the 29 year-old only learned very late that he would not be going to Spain.

Amakhosi and Cele are said to be in discussions over a settlement on Cele’s contract, which has two years left to run. Cele join Chiefs on a free transfer in January 2025, and has so far made 36 appearances in all competitions.

New signings

Chiefs’ new signings – goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner and defender Thabo Moloisane – have travelled to Spain with the squad.

Rwandan goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari has not travelled with the Chiefs squad, as he is reported to be set to go on loan to new Betway Premiership side Kruger United.

Rudi Garcia ne manque pas d’ambition avant le quart de finale de la Coupe du monde contre l’Espagne. Conscient de la qualité de son adversaire, le sélectionneur de la Belgique estime néanmoins que ses joueurs possèdent les armes offensives et la confiance nécessaires pour décrocher leur qualification pour le dernier carré.

Le technicien français reconnaît que la Roja fait partie des principaux prétendants au sacre. Selon lui, la sélection espagnole reste une référence mondiale grâce à sa maîtrise du ballon et à une identité de jeu qu’elle conserve depuis de nombreuses années.

« Nous savons que nous affrontons l’une des équipes favorites. L’Espagne est probablement la meilleure équipe en matière de possession de balle et elle développe le même style de jeu avec succès depuis quinze ou vingt ans », a expliqué Rudi Garcia.

Malgré ce constat, le sélectionneur des Diables rouges se montre confiant. Il estime que la Belgique dispose d’un potentiel offensif suffisant pour mettre en difficulté la défense espagnole et créer la surprise.

« Nous avons une excellente équipe. Nous faisons partie des meilleures attaques du tournoi et nous allons affronter la sélection qui affiche les meilleures statistiques en termes de buts attendus. Nous croyons en nos chances », a-t-il affirmé.

Avec 13 réalisations depuis le début de la compétition, la Belgique possède la troisième meilleure attaque de cette Coupe du monde 2026. Seules la France (16 buts) et l’Argentine (14 buts) ont trouvé le chemin des filets à davantage de reprises. Des statistiques qui confortent les Diables rouges dans leur ambition de faire tomber l’Espagne et de poursuivre leur aventure mondiale.

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