Kaizer Chiefs have announced that the decisive second leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup showdown against AS Simba from the Democratic Republic of Congo will take place at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
The move is necessary because FNB Stadium is occupied and will likely be undergoing pitch recovery due to major non-football events.
Read: Kaizer Chiefs Gear Up for Crucial CAF Confederation Cup Showdown Against AS Simba
The primary reason for the venue change is a conflict with major events that have compromised the FNB Stadium pitch.
Scheduling Conflict: The stadium is also scheduled to host the “Ride Joburg” road races on Sunday, October 26, 2025—the exact day of the CAF return leg.
The cycling event is set to start and end at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, making the venue unavailable for the evening football match.
Pitch Damage: The FNB Stadium pitch recently suffered significant wear and tear following American rapper Travis Scott’s sold-out concert over the weekend.
The large crowds in attendance likely contributed to damage on the grass surface, which now requires time to recover before it can meet professional playing standards.
A hallmark of Scott’s performances is the infamous “mosh pit,” where fans are encouraged to jump in unison to some of his biggest hits, including “FE!N.”
As a result, Chiefs confirmed they will host the second leg of the second preliminary round tie against AS Simba at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Sunday, October 26.
The Continental Double-Header
The clash against AS Simba marks the beginning of a decisive double-header for the Soweto giants, with the winner progressing to the Confederation Cup group stages.
First Leg (Away): Chiefs will travel to Lubumbashi, DRC, to face AS Simba. The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 on Saturday, October 18, at TP Mazembe Stadium. This fixture marks the Glamour Boys’ first encounter with opponents from the DRC in a decade, having last played AS Vita in Kinshasa during the 2014 CAF Champions League preliminary stages.
Second Leg (Home): The decisive return match will be held at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, October 26. Chiefs will rely on the home advantage to secure their place in the group stages of the competition.
Chiefs advanced to this stage after a dramatic 5–4 penalty shootout victory over Angolan side Kabuscorp in the first round last month, after the tie ended 1–1 on aggregate.
The team is currently being led by caretaker coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef until the end of the season, following the recent departure of head coach Nasreddine Nabi.