Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu has described Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup Group D encounter against Zambia’s Zesco United as a defining moment in the South African giants’ continental campaign.
The two sides meet at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola with both still searching for their first win of the group stage. Chiefs have collected one point from a draw against Zamalek, while Zesco United are yet to register a point after defeats to Zamalek and Al Masry. Chiefs also suffered a 2–1 loss in their other group match.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Ndlovu stressed the importance of efficiency and concentration in African competition.
“It’s important to capitalize on your chances in CAF football,” Ndlovu said. “Essentially, you need to stay focused until the last minute.”
The midfielder believes the outcome in Ndola could shape Chiefs’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
“Everything Is Possible” -Ndlovu.
“This game will be very crucial for us because it will determine where we are going,” he said. “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 also acknowledged the challenges of playing away on the continent, urging his teammates to show mental strength.
“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,” he told the club’s media department.
“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.”
Sunday’s match will mark the first meeting between Zesco United and Kaizer Chiefs since 2019. On that occasion, Zesco won 3–1 at home in the first leg of the qualifiers before Chiefs responded with a 2–1 victory in South Africa. The tie finished 3–3 on aggregate, with Zesco advancing 5–2 on penalties at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The CAF Confederation Cup Group D encounter kicks off at 15:00 in Ndola.
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