Nedbank Cup: Where did it go wrong for Chiefs against Stellies?

Kaizer Chiefs‘ hopes of defending the Nedbank Cup title were dashed on Wednesday night when they fell at the DHL Stadium against Gavin Hunt’s Stellenbosch.

The hosts found the back of the net through Ibraheem Jabar and Devin Titus, while the Glamour Boys got their sole strike courtesy of Flavio Silva as the game ended 2-1.

This was the first time in the last five games, across all competitions, that Stellenbosch have beaten the Soweto giants in regulation time. Nevertheless, Amakhosi were eliminated from the Carling Knockout by the same opponent but in the penalty shootout.

Club’s co-coach Cedric has now explained where it went wrong for the holders.

90+ 5’| #ST 2 : 1 #KC

Full time score: (Jabaar. pen 10’, Titus 22’) Stellenbosch FC 2 : 1 Kaizer Chiefs (Da Silva. pen 56’)#Amakhosi4Life #NedbankCup #AlwaysHome pic.twitter.com/KNf1WLeJEV

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) February 4, 2026

How Chiefs lost to Stellies

“I believe that’s the first minutes that were decisive, we didn’t get into the game with the right attitude, with the right mentality. We conceded goals that are available in the first 20 minutes. But even in the first half we had two or three one-vs-one with the keeper that we didn’t score,” he said in his post-match presser.

“We need to say that it was one of those days where everything you do is not enough. We created a lot of opportunities, in the second half we hit the post two or three times.

“We have to keep our mental strong, look forward to Sunday’s game, which comes very fast and is a massive, massive game for us,” Kaze stated.

Unlucky day

“I believe that even [though] in the first half they scored two goals, we were the better team. We missed a few opportunities. That’s what we showed them, that even in the first half we conceded two goals we had the opportunities to score two or threem” Kaze continued.

“We had to go into the second half with the right attitude and try to score the first goal, in the first 15 minutes that’s going to give us a boost for the rest of the game.

“They did well in the second half but I would say it was an unlucky day and we are out of the competition but we’re gonna fight for the rest of the season for the remaining games in the league and the CAF Confederations Cup,” the Burundian concluded.