Chiefs grind out goalless draw in Congo: Tie balanced for Soweto return

Kaizer Chiefs secured a valuable goalless draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo’s AS Simba on Saturday afternoon in Lubumbashi, leaving the CAF Confederation Cup Second Preliminary Round tie perfectly poised for the return leg.

Playing at the intimidating Stade TP Mazembe, the South African giants struggled for long stretches to assert dominance, but ultimately achieved their main objective: avoiding an away defeat and keeping a crucial clean sheet.

The match was far from dull, particularly in the first half. While the hosts had an early goal disallowed for offside, Chiefs had arguably the best chance of the opening stanza. Just before the break, striker Khanyisa Mayo—recently cleared for CAF duty—unleashed a shot that tragically slammed against the crossbar. Minutes later, the Naturena side felt aggrieved when a potential penalty shout for a foul on Glody Lilepo was waved away, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked.

The second half was a tight affair, with neither side managing to break through a determined defence. But Chiefs nearly stole the win in the 80th minute! Substitute Mfundo Vilakazi electrified the match with a beautiful free-kick, but the AS Simba goalkeeper was up to the task, pulling off a stunning save to keep the scores level.

The result means the Amakhosi must now win the return fixture at Dobsonville Stadium next weekend to advance to the group stages.

The result is a slight boost for the club following a recent period of inconsistent domestic form, which saw them recently eliminated from the Carling Knockout Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Stellenbosch FC.

The team is currently being guided by interim duo Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, who stepped into the hotseat following the official departure of head coach Nasreddine Nabi. The pair, who served as Nabi’s assistants, will now prepare the squad for what promises to be a tense, do-or-die encounter in Soweto next Saturday.

This CAF fixture marked Chiefs’ return to action after the FIFA international window, a break that also celebrated Bafana Bafana’s successful qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The winner of the second leg will earn a coveted spot in the Confederation Cup group stages.