Kaizer Chiefs set to part ways with coach Nasreddine Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly agreed to part ways with coach Nasreddine Nabi just six games into the new season.

Chiefs lost their first game of the season following a 3-1 defeat to Sekhukhune United on Tuesday as they also saw their run of five clash sheets come to a halt.

However, while coach Nabi was on the touchline, he has reportedly agreed to leave the club immediately but the decision is not based on football but rather a personal matter.

According to iDiski Times, Nabi has opted to leave his role as Chiefs coach to return home to be with his family after his wife was involved in a nasty accident last month.

Why is Nabi leaving Chiefs?

The veteran coach had been given compassionate leave last month and was absent from the dugout as Chiefs started the season, missing matches against Stellenbosch FC, Polokwane City and Richards Bay, but he returned for the last three games as his team played Mamelodi Sundowns, Golden Arrows and Sekhukhune.

However, despite starting the season in brilliant fashion, the condition of his wife has forced him to cut short his stint with Chiefs in his second season at the club, who he led to the Nedbank Cup win last term, Amakhosi’s first trophy in 10 years.

The outlet reports that Nabi will not be in the dugout for Chiefs’ CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round match against Angolan side Kabuscorp S.C.P on Saturday September 20 with his assistants Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze likely to be in charge.

Tunisian coach’s papers in ‘question‘

However, a different report from SABC says Chiefs have decided to sack Nabi as he does not have the requisite qualifications to guide Chiefs in the CAF Confederation Cup, which raises questions, since the tactician led Tanzanian giants Yanga to the competition’s final in 2023. However, it could stem from a recent CAF rule change requring head coaches to have a CAF A or Pro Licence for inter-club competitions.

Nabi joined Chiefs in July 2024 after a one-year stint with Moroccan side AS FAR, and endured a challenging first season, when he managed 33 games, winning 12, drawing eight and losing 13 in all competitions, but won the Nedbank Cup to save himself from the sack and qualify for the Confederation Cup.

He has started the 2025-26 season in fantastic fashion after winning four, drawing one and losing another of their six games, all in the league.