The 2026 World Cup will feature a South African coach outside the Bafana Bafana framework as the experienced Roger de Sa has joined forces with his long-time associate, Carlos Queiroz, to assist Ghana during the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
De Sa will take on the role of assistant coach to Queiroz, a former manager of Bafana Bafana and notable clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United. This isn’t the first time de Sa has occupied this position; he has previously supported Queiroz during the 2010 and 2022 World Cups.
At 61 years of age, de Sa is a veteran of South African football. He played as a goalkeeper for Bafana Bafana and led Orlando Pirates to the CAF Champions League final in 2013. His collaboration with Queiroz also saw Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in Cameroon in early 2022, where they were narrowly defeated by Senegal in a penalty shootout.
In their most recent roles with Qatar and Oman, Queiroz relied on de Sa as his assistant, and they will now join forces with Ghana, who recently appointed Queiroz as their head coach just months before the World Cup begins.
The Black Stars dismissed coach Otto Addo following consecutive losses in March friendlies against Austria and Germany, swiftly securing the 73-year-old Queiroz as his successor.
De Sa is a trusted ally of Queiroz, having first collaborated with him during his tenure as South Africa’s coach between 2000 and 2002, when de Sa served as the goalkeeping coach. He also supported Queiroz during the 2010 World Cup when he managed Portugal.
In his own right, de Sa has managed various clubs, including Wits University, Santos, Pirates, Ajax Cape Town, and Platinum Stars, overseeing over 500 top-flight matches in South African football.
His playing days included spells at Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns, and he earned a cap for South Africa in 1993.
With limited time to prepare for the World Cup, Queiroz and de Sa have a couple of friendlies before the tournament kicks off in North America.
Ghana is set to play against Mexico in New York on May 22 and Wales in Cardiff on June 2.
At the finals, the Black Stars find themselves in Group L, where they will take on Croatia, England, and Panama.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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