Red Arrows refuse to defend narrow lead against Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs have been warned that Red Arrows will attack rather than protect their 1-0 advantage when the sides meet in the decisive second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

The winners will secure a place in the competition’s group stage, with qualification worth USD400 000 (approximately R6,6 million). The group stage is scheduled to run from November 27, 2026, to January 24, with CAF paying that amount to the teams that finish third and fourth in the section.

Red Arrows captain Saddam Yusuf Phiri said the Zambian club intend to settle the contest in Durban if possible, despite holding only a one-goal lead from the first meeting.

“We want to kill off the game here if we can, so the boys will be up for it,” Phiri said.

The visitors are not planning to sit deep against a Kaizer Chiefs side expected to attack from the start as they attempt to overturn the deficit.

“At this stage of the competition, we cannot look to sit back when we are sitting on a slender 1-0 lead,” said Red Arrows assistant coach Kalililo Kakonje.

“I think that is not enough.

“We are not here to defend because the team we are playing against is capable of scoring more than one.

“We are looking to try and qualify.”

Kakonje knows the surroundings well after spending five years in Durban during spells with Golden Arrows, Nathi Lions and AmaZulu FC.

He is now assistant to Chisi Mbewe at Red Arrows. Mbewe did not take part in Thursday’s pre-match interviews because he was unwell.

Kakonje said the club are aiming to reach the group stage for the first time and acknowledged the difficulty of the task against a Chiefs team with home support.

“We are looking to make history as Red Arrows and get into the group stages, so it is a challenge for us,” he said.

“Playing a team of Chiefs’ calibre away from home, we know that it is going to be a very tough game, a difficult game bearing in mind that Chiefs lost the first game in Zambia, so they will be looking to turn the tables.

“They will have the 12th player behind them, but like I said, we are looking to join the other four teams that have made it to the group stages in Zambia.

“So, we will give it our best shot.”

Red Arrows missed several opportunities in the first leg, and Kakonje said finishing had been a focus in preparation for the return fixture.

“We missed a lot of chances back home and we have worked on our conversion rate,” he said.

“But we expect a different approach from Amakhosi.”