CAFCC: Maboe and Ngcobo rally Chiefs ahead of crucial ZESCO clash

Midfield stars Lebohang Maboe and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo have urged their Kaizer Chiefs teammates to maintain their clinical form as Amakhosi prepare for a high-stakes CAF Confederation Cup encounter against ZESCO United this Sunday.

Despite a perfect start to 2026—winning three games on the bounce without conceding a goal against Golden Arrows and Marumo Gallants—Maboe insists the job is far from over.

❤️✌🏼 #Amakhosi4Life pic.twitter.com/LG9Jlf886I

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) February 1, 2026

“I think we have had a very positive start to 2026. Collectively, we have been working very hard and collecting points, but we must keep our feet on the ground,” Maboe told the club’s official website. “It’s a very important game because we need the points to have a chance of getting out of the group stage.”

His sentiments were echoed by Ngcobo, who highlighted the growing confidence within the squad following their midweek victory over Marumo Gallants. “We are winning our games, and we need more of that. We are confident and looking forward to the game,” said ‘Mshini,’ who added that the Durban faithful will be key to their success. “We aim to give them a day to celebrate.”

Tactical Awareness

Maboe, who featured in the 1-0 away win in Ndola last weekend, warned that the Zambian side remains a dangerous opponent.

“They are an awkward team to play against; they play a lot of long balls and fight for second balls,” he explained. “We will try to frustrate them by keeping possession and find openings in their defence. If we can get the first goal, they will have to come out, and we will try to exploit that.”

The Road to the Knockouts For Chiefs

A victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium would be a landmark moment for the Soweto giants. It would mark the first time Chiefs have won successive group-stage games in CAF competition and would significantly bolster their chances of qualifying for the knockout rounds.

Amakhosi currently boast an impressive home record in continental football, having kept nine clean sheets in their last 10 CAF home fixtures. They face a ZESCO side that, despite having the most shots on target in the group (18), is still searching for its first points of the campaign.

Kick-off in Durban is set for 15:00.