Kaizer Chiefs face a difficult task in their bid to reach the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, with several key players set to miss Friday’s decisive second-leg clash against Red Arrows.
Amakhosi return to action trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Zambia, meaning Fernando Da Cruz’s side must overturn the deficit at home if they are to keep their continental campaign alive.
The injury situation has made the challenge even tougher, with three players expected to be unavailable for the crucial encounter.
Chiefs Missing Key Players
Langelihle Phili remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from the injury he suffered in August.
The defender joined Chiefs from Stellenbosch FC but has yet to return to full fitness, ruling him out of the Red Arrows clash.
Chiefs will also be without Khanyisa Mayo, who has been recovering from an injury picked up during pre-season.
Adding to the concerns is Thabiso Monyane, who is expected to miss Friday’s match after being forced off during last weekend’s encounter against Red Arrows.
With the tie finely balanced, the absence of three players could leave Da Cruz with fewer options as he looks to find a way past the Zambian side.
Goalkeeping Boost for Amakhosi
There is, however, some encouraging news for Chiefs.
Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is expected to be available for selection after recovering from his recent fitness concerns.
Despite Petersen’s expected return, Renaldo Leaner is reportedly in line to retain his place in goal for the decisive fixture.
Chiefs Have a Mountain to Climb
Chiefs know exactly what is required on Friday.
After losing the opening leg 1-0, Amakhosi need to win by at least two clear goals to overturn the deficit and secure their place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages.
Red Arrows, meanwhile, will arrive in South Africa confident after securing the first-leg advantage.
Head coach Chisi Mbewe has already expressed strong belief that his side can complete the job and advance to the next round.
The Red Arrows coach claimed his team had an “eight out of ten” chance of eliminating Chiefs, while admitting that his players could have taken a bigger advantage from the first leg after creating several scoring opportunities.
Pressure Mounts on Fernando Da Cruz
The stakes are high for Chiefs and their coach.
Failing to overturn the deficit would end their hopes of reaching the Confederation Cup group stage and could increase the pressure on Da Cruz as he continues to establish himself at the Soweto giants.
With home advantage, Chiefs will need a far more clinical performance than they produced in Zambia.
Can Amakhosi turn the tie around, or will Red Arrows hold on to their advantage and eliminate Chiefs?
