The Kaizer Chiefs team must consider the warning signs from their Zambian rivals before the upcoming clash with Red Arrows in the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.
Historically, Amakhosi have had mixed results in matches against Zambian clubs at the continental level: out of six previous encounters, they secured two victories, one draw, and suffered three defeats, scoring four goals and conceding seven.
The first confrontations took place back in 2000 in the CAF Cup against Nchanga Rangers, where Chiefs initially lost 2–0 at home, followed by a 0–0 draw away, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
A later unsuccessful experience occurred in the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup against ZESCO United, where the team lost 3–1 away and 2–1 at home, resulting in a 5–2 aggregate defeat.
Nevertheless, last season Chiefs managed to change the situation, securing 1–0 victories both away and at home during the Confederation Cup group stage.
These positive results give the team hope ahead of the game against Red Arrows, although the Zambian club presents a different challenge and intends to succeed in the competition.
Red Arrows qualified for the second preliminary round after defeating FC Rouge from Madagascar 4–0 on aggregate over two matches.
The match will take place at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, where Red Arrows will host Chiefs. The first match will give both sides an opportunity to gain an advantage before the return fixture scheduled in South Africa.
For Chiefs, the timing of this match creates an additional complication. The team approaches this continental confrontation after a draw with Stellenbosch FC in the Betway Premier League on Tuesday.
Given the limited time for recovery and preparation, coach Fernando Da Cruz must carefully manage the squad as the team shifts focus from domestic duties to African competitions.
Chiefs have also confirmed a squad of 23 players for the trip to Zambia, including Rushwin Dortley, Inácio Miguel, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Mduduzi Shabalala, and Flavio Da Silva.
The team's main objective is to return home with a result that ensures a strong position for the second match, scheduled for Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, October 23rd.
An additional motivation for Chiefs stems from the fact that last season they narrowly missed the Confederation Cup playoffs, finishing the group stage with 11 points but losing on goal difference.
Thus, advancing to the group stage is a crucial priority for Coach Da Cruz's team, aiming to improve upon last season's performance.
Recent statistics against Zambian clubs show that this challenge cannot be underestimated. However, two victories over ZESCO last season also demonstrate that Chiefs are capable of competing successfully against teams from that country.
The Saturday meeting with Red Arrows will test whether Amakhosi can maintain this momentum in yet another intense continental tournament.