The Soweto giants travel to Angola on Saturday to face Kabuscorp in the first preliminary round first leg at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro. Kick-off is at 17:00 CAT.
A fractured start to a promising season
Chiefs’ 2025/26 campaign started brightly, but Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Sekhukhune United left more questions than answers. The loss was a missed chance to go top of the Premiership table — and it came with whispers of deeper problems off the pitch.
Head coach Nasreddine Nabi’s relationship with the club looks fractured, with reports suggesting he may not even sit on the bench in Angola. For a side desperate to re-establish themselves in Africa, the timing is far from ideal.
Kabuscorp’s dream stage
For Kabuscorp, this tie represents history in the making. Their 2024/25 Taça de Angola triumph secured a maiden place in the CAF Confederation Cup, and they’ve shown early signs of resilience with a league-opening win over Interclube.
Like Chiefs, Kabuscorp finished ninth in their domestic league last season but qualified through cup success. It means both clubs arrive in this competition not as league heavyweights, but as cup fighters eager to punch above their weight.
The players that matter
Chiefs will pin their hopes on Portuguese forward Flávio Silva, who has wasted no time in settling at Naturena with two goals in his first two outings. His finishing touch could prove vital away from home.
Kabuscorp’s danger man is Filhão, a striker capable of troubling defences with his physicality and eye for goal. Chiefs’ backline — boosted by the return of Aden McCarthy — will need to keep him quiet.
What the numbers say
- Seven of Kabuscorp’s last eight games have produced under 2.5 goals.
- Chiefs have seen six of their last seven matches finish the same way.
- Away from home, Amakhosi have managed two clean-sheet wins already this season.
The signs point toward a cautious, low-scoring contest.
Prediction
This won’t be a thriller, but it will be tense. Chiefs’ experience in continental football should count, even with their off-field turbulence. Kabuscorp will throw everything at them in front of their home fans, but Amakhosi have enough quality to leave Angola with a draw or even a narrow win.
Prediction: 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Betting outlook
Markets lean tight: Kabuscorp at 6/5, Chiefs around even money, and the draw at 11/5. The smart money is on under 2.5 goals, with Chiefs edging it if Silva continues his hot streak.