Kaizer Chiefs are set to navigate a crucial two-legged tie in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, with all fixtures and venues now confirmed for their clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo’s AS Simba.
The Soweto giants must overcome their DRC opponents to secure a coveted spot in the competition’s group stages.
The Congolese Hurdle: First Leg Away
Amakhosi will first travel to Lubumbashi, DRC, for the first leg this week. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15h00 on Saturday, October 18, at the TP Mazembe Stadium.
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This fixture marks Chiefs’ first encounter with a team from the DRC in over a decade, having last visited the country’s capital, Kinshasa, in 2014 during a CAF Champions League preliminary tie against AS Vita.
Advancing by the Skin of Their Teeth
Chiefs’ passage to this stage was a dramatic one. In the first preliminary round, the club suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kabuscorp in the first leg played in Luanda, Angola, placing immense pressure on the team ahead of the return fixture.
That being said, the team showed resilience, mirroring the 1-0 score line in their favour in the home leg. With the tie level at a 1-1 aggregate, the winner had to be decided by penalties.
After a scrappy shootout, the Premier Soccer League side held their nerve to secure a 5-4 victory from the spot kicks, earning their ticket to face AS Simba.
AS Simba, meanwhile, advanced to this round by defeating Djabal Club d’Iconi of Comoros with a comfortable 3-0 aggregate score.
Home Advantage in Soweto
Due to the unavailability of FNB Stadium, the decisive second leg will be hosted at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Sunday, October 26. With the crucial home advantage, Chiefs will be looking to dominate and seal their place in the group stages of this season’s competition.
Boosted Squad for the Continental Push
The international break provided a timely reprieve for the squad. Chiefs are expected to welcome back several players who have recovered from injury. The squad is further strengthened by the return of youngsters Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman, who were away representing the nation at the U20 World Cup in Chile.
In addition, the club has confirmed that Baartman and Asanele Velebayi are now cleared to play following the finalisation of their appealed cases, adding much-needed depth and options for the technical team.
The winner of this tie will immediately progress to the group stage draw. The club is hoping this journey brings them one step closer to achieving continental glory for the first time since their 2001 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup triumph.