Kaizer Chiefs face a decisive CAF Confederation Cup second leg in Durban needing to win by two clear goals. The Amakhosi lost the first leg of their second preliminary round tie 1-0 to Zambia's Red Arrows last Saturday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Allassane Diarra's 77th-minute header from a corner settled the contest, leaving the South African side with a steep task back on home soil. The team's current league standing of fifth in the Premier Soccer League, with 14 points from three wins and five draws in eight games, reflects a season where consistency has been elusive.
Coach Fernando Da Cruz has called for unity from his players and the club's supporters ahead of the key return match. He urged the entire Amakhosi family to come together for the Friday night fixture, which kicks off at 6pm at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The club has opted to host the match in Durban, banking on their strong support in KwaZulu-Natal to create a formidable atmosphere. Da Cruz emphasized that the team will need the energy of the crowd to overcome the deficit, stating the players are fully aware of the challenge and are prepared to fight for the result.
Chiefs must win by a margin of two goals to advance automatically. A 1-0 victory would send the tie to a penalty shootout, while any other single-goal win or a draw would see Red Arrows progress on away goals. The task comes as the team handles a congested schedule, sitting fifth in the Premier Soccer League standings with 14 points from eight matches. Their recent form shows one win, three draws and one defeat from the last five outings across all competitions. This sequence includes the 1-0 loss to Red Arrows on Saturday 17 October, a 1-1 draw with Stellenbosch where Mduduzi Shabalala scored, a goalless draw with Golden Arrows, a 1-1 draw with Polokwane City, and a 3-2 win over Siwelele.
Domestically, the gap to the summit is significant, with Chiefs nine points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who also have two games in hand. The team's overall record this season shows 13 goals scored and eight conceded. Before that, continental progress is the immediate and sole focus. The club has stated it will leave no stone unturned in its effort to reach the group stages of the Confederation Cup for the first time in several seasons. The technical team has been analyzing Red Arrows' play, noting their physicality and speed on the counter-attack, and will tailor their approach accordingly. The second leg in Durban is scheduled for Friday, 23 October, with the winner advancing to the lucrative group phase of the competition. Attention will then quickly turn to a key domestic clash away to second-placed Orlando Pirates on Saturday 31 October.
First reported at sundayworld.co.za
