Kaizer Chiefs look to fighting spirit to revive CAF campaign in Ndola

A strong mindset and fighting spirit are some of the crucial ways Kaizer Chiefs will need to get their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage campaign up and running when they visit Zesco United at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday (3pm, kick-off).

Chiefs are travelling to Ndola under a bit of pressure. They are winless in Group D after the first two games, having lost 2–1 to Al Masry away and drawn 1–1 with Zamalek at home.

Those two results have placed them third in the group and three points behind log leaders Al Masry, putting their chances of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since they reached the Champions League final in 2021 in serious jeopardy.

Given all that, they could momentarily salvage the situation and remain in the race for a top-two finish if they beat Zesco in their own backyard in Ndola.

Interestingly, this will be the first time these two teams meet since 2019 when Zesco won 3–1 in the first leg of the qualifiers of the tournament at home, before losing 2–1 in the return leg. The tie ended 3–3 on aggregate, with Zesco ultimately winning 5–2 on penalties at Levy Mwanawasa.

Given that pressure and the hostilities that come with playing in Africa, midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu, speaking to the club’s media department on Thursday, revealed what they need to do to come out victorious in neighbouring Zambia.

“We know that we are going to face external factors that will want to impede us in Zambia. That’s why we need to be mentally strong and fight,” Ndlovu said.

“I am emphasising that because I know that if you fight as an individual, the rest of the players can feed off that and join in. When you start fighting as a collective, then everything is possible.”

Chiefs’ fighting spirit will require the team to be rock-solid in defence and clinical up front. They have struggled in both departments in their last two games, conceding three goals and scoring just two.

With no room for error against Zesco, Ndlovu knows that, with the group-stage campaign at its halfway mark, this could be the game that makes or breaks their progress.

“It's important to capitalise on your chances in CAF football,” Ndlovu said. “Essentially, you need to stay focused until the last minute.

“This game will be very crucial for us because it will determine where we are going. We know how many points we have, and that’s why we need to add to them so that we can keep ourselves in the race to finish in the top two.”

Ndlovu is under no illusion that it will be easy, even if they bring their fighting spirit and strong mindset to Ndola. That is why he has urged the team to stick together and take positives from their 1–0 win over Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday night.

“I know that CAF is a very difficult competition,” Ndlovu said. “You can never guarantee a win, but you really need to have a fighting spirit within the team. Heading to Zambia, we are going to need that.

“We saw against Arrows that this is what we will need from every player. We need to go there and fight. We are not going there to make it easy for them.”

Having been named Player of the Match in the win over Arrows, Ndlovu is ready to lead the fight against Zesco as he looks to add to his achievements following a strong start at the club since arriving earlier in the season.

“Most definitely, I am working on achieving more,” Ndlovu said. “What I’ve received is not the end, because I am driven by certain targets that I have set for myself. Hopefully, I can achieve more.”