Kaizer Chiefs face attacking challenge after Makabi Lilepo departure

Kaizer Chiefs may have to find a direct replacement for Makabi Lilepo before the start of the 2026/27 season, with statistics suggesting the Soweto club were significantly more effective when the Democratic Republic of Congo striker was available last term.

Lilepo is set to leave Amakhosi after contributing 13 goals in all competitions during the previous campaign. He scored nine times and provided four assists, making him an important part of The Glamour Boys’ attack despite failing to match the impact he made during his first six months at the club.

The 29-year-old joined Chiefs in January 2025 and immediately made an impression, scoring six goals in the first six months of his Amakhosi career. His form was less convincing last season, but his influence on the team remained clear from the results recorded with and without him.

Chiefs won 52% of the matches in which Lilepo played, while their success rate fell to 33% in the games he missed for various reasons. That contrast suggests new head coach Fernando da Cruz could be left with a significant problem if the club do not recruit a replacement before the new campaign begins.

Da Cruz has already acknowledged that Chiefs are still seeking attacking reinforcements. Flavio Silva and Etiosa Ighodaro are expected to shoulder much of the responsibility for providing goals, although neither has yet been presented as a direct substitute for Lilepo.

There was evidence last season that Chiefs could cope without the DRC forward. In November 2025, they produced a convincing 4-1 victory against Orbit College while Lilepo was unavailable.

However, his absence was felt more sharply in the following match against Chippa United. Chiefs failed to score in that game and were held to a goalless draw, underlining the potential consequences of losing a forward who had provided both goals and attacking presence.

Lilepo also played an important role in Chiefs’ historic run to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages. He scored the decisive goal against Kabuscorp in the second leg of the first round, securing a 1-0 victory that levelled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate. Chiefs subsequently advanced after winning the tie on penalties.

The French-speaking striker continued to contribute in the group-stage campaign, scoring against prominent opponents including Zamalek, Simba and Zesco United. Chiefs ultimately came close to reaching the quarter-finals but missed out on progressing by the narrowest of margins.

Those performances mean Lilepo’s departure is likely to be measured not only by the number of goals he scored, but also by the difference in Chiefs’ results when he was absent. With the 2026/27 season approaching and no direct replacement confirmed, Da Cruz must ensure the club’s attacking options can compensate for that loss.