Kaizer Chiefs make big decision on co-coaches Kaze and Ben Youssef

Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly decided to part ways with co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef despite leading them to their best finish in six years.

Kaze and Ben Youssef guided Chiefs to third place in the 2025-26 PSL season, securing qualification to next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, but that has not been enough to grant them a stay of execution.

According to FARPost, Chiefs have decided to cut ties with Burundian Kaze and Tunisian Ben Youssef, who were elevated from being Nasreddine Nabi’s assistants to co-head coaches until the end of the just-concluded season, when their boss left the Glamour Boys last September.

Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef in trainning. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

The two have divided opinion during their stay at Naturena with a section of fans, pundits and ex-players calling for their sacking while others wanted them to stay, especially after finishing third.

Early cup exits for Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches

Kaze and Ben Youssef joined Chiefs when Nabi was hired as head coach, the Tunisian joining his compatriot immediately in July 2024, before the Burundian was added to the backroom staff a few months later.

Kaze also acted as Nabi’s interpreter during pre-and post-match interviews but was elevated to the hot seat alongside Ben Youssef when their boss left in unclear circumstances.

Nasreddine Nabi, Kaizer Motaung Jr, Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze at Kaizer Chiefs. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

The coaching duo looked to have got things going when they had Chiefs challenging Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns for the title late last year but fizzed out in 2026.

They also exited all cup competitions, getting eliminated from the Carling Knockout and Nedbank Cup in the first round while they suffered Confederation Cup exit at the group stage, having been top heading into the final match.

Who could replace Kaze and Ben Youssef?

That led to calls for their sacking and things escalated between February and March when they went five games without a win before they steadied the ship and secured third place.

Kaizer Chiefs coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

Chiefs’ haul of 54 points was their best since finishing second in 2019-20 a good return from the 32 that they managed when finishing ninth in 2024-25.

However, Chiefs seem not to have been convinced and have opted not to exercise their one-year option on their contracts as they look to bring in a new coach and chart a new direction.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane, Bafana legend Benni McCarthy, now coach of Kenya, and Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi are among names that have been mentioned as possible candidates for the Chiefs job.