The plot thickens in Alicante, Spain. While head coach Fernando Da Cruz establishes his new tactical footprints in Europe, Kaizer Chiefs have sent shockwaves through the fan base by dropping marquee winger Glody Lilepo from the traveling pre-season roster.
Following closely behind the dramatic exclusion of midfielder Thabo Cele, Lilepo’s absence has effectively confirmed behind-the-scenes realities: the DR Congo international is heavily engineering a permanent departure from the Soweto giants.
📉 The Breakdown: Social Media Cleansing & Rejected Contracts
Lilepo arrived from French side Valenciennes in January 2025 for a reported R9.6 million (€500k) and immediately established himself as one of Amakhosi’s primary attacking forces, driving the club to a top-three Betway Premiership finish. However, relations have rapidly broken down:
- Contract Refusal: The 28-year-old winger has formally rejected a lucrative new contract extension offered by the Naturena board.
- Digital Scrubbing: In a classic modern football statement, Lilepo has scrubbed all club-related imagery and affiliations from his personal social media handles.
- The Valuation Boom: According to prominent local sports journalists, the current incoming bids from North Africa significantly exceed the initial fee Chiefs spent to acquire him, presenting a massive profit opportunity.
North African Giants Circle for the Signature
Amakhosi hold full contractual leverage until June 2027, but forcing an unhappy star to stay ahead of a demanding domestic and CAF Confederation Cup campaign poses high tactical risks. The board is now evaluating lucrative proposals from three continental heavyweights:
- AS FAR Rabat (Morocco): The recent CAF Champions League finalists are currently leading the race, looking to inject immediate wide-area pace into their ranks.
- Zamalek SC (Egypt): The Cairo giants have been actively monitoring Lilepo’s output since his days at Al-Hilal Omdurman.
- Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya): Pushing aggressive terms to outbid their regional counterparts.
A final decision on Lilepo’s Soweto future is expected to be rubber-stamped as soon as the hierarchy returns from the European base.
