Chiefs Need Draw vs Zamalek to Secure CAF Confederation Cup Knockout Spot

Kaizer Chiefs will travel to Cairo seeking at least a draw against Zamalek on Saturday, February 14th, to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup. The South African side currently leads Group D with 10 points, following a 2-1 victory over Al Masry at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, February 8th.

Despite securing the win against Al Masry, Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung acknowledged the team’s missed opportunities to confirm qualification earlier. “Unfortunately we didn’t score the third goal, but We see still open,” Motaung said, adding, “It is a good challenge to go positively and fight and win the game [in Cairo].”

Zamalek currently sit in second place in Group D with eight points, two points behind Chiefs. Al Masry are third with seven points, and ZESCO United are at the bottom with three. Both Zamalek and Al Masry must win their remaining matches to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Al Masry face ZESCO United in their final group stage match.

The match against Zamalek will be played at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, with a kick-off time of 18:00 local time. Kaizer Chiefs will be without defenders Inacio Miguel, due to injury, and Aden McCarthy, who is suspended following accumulated cautions.

A 23-man squad, led by head coaches Ben Khalil Youssef and Cedric Kaze, has made the journey to Egypt. The travelling squad includes goalkeepers Brandon Petersen, Bruce Bvuma, and Takalani Mazhamba, as well as key attackers Glody Lilepo, Pule Mmodi, and Asanele Velebayi.

This continental competition marks Kaizer Chiefs’ return to the CAF Confederation Cup after a previous run to the 2020-21 CAF Champions League final, where they were defeated by Al Ahly, Zamalek’s rivals. A positive result in Cairo would signal a resurgence for the club, following their Nedbank Cup triumph last season.