Kaizer Chiefs orchestrated a thrilling come from behind 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, a result that propelled them to their first final appearance in the competition since 2019.
The second half witnessed a spirited Amakhosi side overturn a one-goal deficit, with strikes from Wandile Duba and Ashley Du Preez negating Teboho Mokoena’s late first-half opener for Sundowns.
Read: Wandile Duba Reveals Nabi’s Tactical Masterclass Against Sundowns
Nasreddine Nabi shed light on the pivotal half-time team talk that ignited his players’ resurgence. While acknowledging the sting of conceding in the dying moments of the first half, Nabi emphasized his belief in the team’s overall performance throughout the initial 45 minutes.
“I think, even the first half, it was very good half for us,” Nabi asserted in a post-match interview with SuperSport TV.
“It was a tactical half. In the planning of the game, we said, we will manage the first half. We know that physical(ly) Sundowns, after the game against Esperance, and then they have a game also against Al Ahly, they can’t manage 90 minutes,
“I think after 45 minutes, because it’s very, very difficult, it’s a very bad time you concede when you go inside, last minute, in the first half.
“But believe me, we said only one thing in the change room. ‘This game is our game.’
“We have to win this game for the fans, for the board, for everybody. We have to prove that we deserve to be in the final. And I think we said for the players, congratulations for the first half, but I was more than sure that for the second half they will did very well.
“And this win, we make it for the fans, to make them happy. Now congratulations for all the players, the players here, the players out of squad, all the players, congratulation for them.”
The Nedbank Cup final will see a clash between Soweto rivals as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will meet at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, 10 May 2025.