July 31 (Reuters) - Hugo ⁠Broos has said he will not renew his ⁠contract as head coach of South Africa ‌when it expires this month, the country’s football association said on Friday.

Belgian Broos, 74, has been at the helm of Bafana ​Bafana since May 2021 and led ⁠them to third place ⁠at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as well ⁠as ‌a first knockout-round berth at the 2026 World Cup, where they exited in the ⁠round of 32 following a defeat to Canada.

The ​South African ‌Football Association had reportedly offered Broos an extension ⁠of his ​contract to the end of the 2027 Cup of Nations next July, but he has instead taken the ⁠decision to retire from professional coaching, ​as he had suggested he would before the World Cup started.

Broos became the oldest coach to win a ⁠match at the global finals at 74 years and 75 days when his side defeated South Korea in their final Group A game.

Bafana Bafana’s next assignment ​is the start of the qualifiers ⁠for the 2027 Cup of Nations that get underway ​with a home fixture against ‌Guinea in late September.

Tournament co-hosts ​Kenya and Eritrea are also in their pool.

(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Clare Fallon)