Chiefs blow as three key players are ruled out of must-win CAF clash

Kaizer Chiefs have suffered a triple blow as they will miss three new signings during their must-win match against Angolan side Kabuscorp FC in the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.

Chiefs must win at the FNB Stadium to proceed to the second preliminary round after suffering a 1-0 loss in Angola last weekend but will have to do it without three key players who recently joined them.

The Glamour Boys will be without striker Khanyisa Mayo, who netted on his debut against Marumo Gallants on Wednesday, as well as left-back Paseka Mako and midfielder Sphesihle Ndlovu for various reasons.

Why are the trio missing Kabuscorp match?

❌ Mayo
❌ Mako
❌ Ndlovu

Cedric Kaze confirms @KaizerChiefs trio not available for Kabuscorp clash. #TotalEnergiesCAFCC | @iDiskiTimes pic.twitter.com/BXd6UxWAJk
— Lorenz Köhler (@Lorenz_KO) September 26, 2025

Mayo will not take part in the match as his signing took place after Chiefs had already submitted their squad to CAF for the Confederation Cup first preliminary round fixtures while Mako and Ndlovu are out due to injuries.

“After the last game against Gallants unfortunately Mayo can’t feature. He is not registered yet. The deadline passed before he came to us. Then tomorrow, we will be without Paseka Mako and (Siphesihle) Ndlovu who were injured in the last game,” Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze told the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Kaze, however, remains confident that Chiefs have enough to get the result that they need to sail through to the next round, pointing to the fact that they were the better team in Angola last weekend.

What is giving Chiefs coach hope for victory?

“I believe that it is a game that we entered well. We could have scored. In the first 15 minutes we were the dominant team,” added the highly experienced former Yanga assistant coach.

“I think that after that, we dropped the block and let the opponent get on the ball and play how they like to play with long balls. But even after that they only had one shot.

“Second half, we entered well but we were a little bit passive. Offensively, we didn’t go with more conviction when we could have scored and unfortunately in random play we then conceded a goal.”

Chiefs made a return to continental football after a four-year hiatus but face the prospect of an early elimination unless they win by at least two clear goals on home soil on Saturday.