Preview: Kaizer Chiefs vs Durban City FC – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

Kaizer Chiefs will be out to ease pressure on their beleaguered co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef when they face high-flying Durban City FC looking to end a run of three straight losses in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Chiefs have gone through a tough spell that left them 17 points behind joint leaders Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns but after resting for 12 days, there are no excuses or margins for error when they welcome Durban City at the FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Match preview

No team has been in the spotlight in the last six weeks than Chiefs and it is all down to a run of just one win in six matches across all competitions.

During that period, Chiefs have been eliminated from the Nedbank Cup, CAF Confederation Cup while the PSL title is out of reach.

Chiefs have been on a poor run of form that sees them head into the game against Durban after four straight losses. That poor streak started with a 2-1 loss away to Zamalek last month, kicking them out of the Confederation Cup before a 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in the league.

Kaizer Chiefs players inspecting the pitch before training. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

Orlando Pirates handed them their biggest Soweto Derby loss in 25 years when they won 3-0 at the end of February before Richards Bay inflicted further pain on them with a 1-0 loss on March 3.

This, coming from a team that had won four straight matches when 2026 started, has been strange but it is where they are. Chiefs are now in sixth position in the PSL with 30 points from 18 matches, having won eight, drawn six and lost four while scoring just 16 goals, only better than four other teams, and conceding 12, the third best defence in the league.

Meanwhile, Chiefs face a Durban City team that is in great form with just two defeats in their last 10 games across all competitions, sitting in fourth place, two points better than them.

Kaizer Chiefs playing against Durban City. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

Pitso Dladla’s side have seven wins, a draw and two losses in their last 10 and that run includes four victories in their last six games among them wins over TS Galaxy, Marumo Gallants, Polokwane City and Orbit College which have taken their tally to 32 points from 20 matches, nine of which they have won, drawn five and lost six.

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit will therefore be looking to add Chiefs to their list of casualties and they need no motivation as they lost the corresponding fixture 1-0 last October which was their sixth straight defeat to the Glamour Boys in all competitions.

Kaizer Chiefs PSL form: LLLWWD

Kaizer Chiefs form (all competitions): LLLLWL

Durban City FC PSL form: DWWLWW

Durban City FC form (all competitions): WDWWWW

Team news

Miguel Inacio and of Kaizer Etiosa Ighodaro against Durban City. Photo – Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef will have to find a winning formula from a depleted squad as Given Msimango, Mfundo Vilakazi, Inacio Miguel, Etiosa Ighodaro, Rushwin Dortley , Reeve Frosler and Brandon Petersen are all out of Sunday’s match with injuries while reports say Nkanyiso Shinga and George Matlou are out for the season.

To make matters worse, Aden McCarthy and Sibongiseni Mthethwa are suspended.

Durban City have no fresh injury concerns from the team that secured passage into the Nedbank Cup semi-final last weekend so Dladla will have a near-full house.

However, influential midfielder Athini Jodwana begins a two-match suspension after being sent off during the Nedbank Cup match.

City winger Saziso Magawana has five goal contributions (two goals and three assists) in his last nine matches and will be keen to down Chiefs, who will be relying on striker Flavio da Silva who has five goals in his last nine matches.

Kaizer Chiefs possible starting lineup

Bvuma; Monyane, Mako, Kwinika, Cross; Ndlovu, Maboe, Chislett; Shabalala, Mmodi, Silva

Durban City possible starting lineup

Keet; Mashego, Ncanana, Gcaba, Mkhize; Sifumba, Jurgens, Poggenpoel, Jodwana; Maseko, Mokwena

We say: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Duran City FC

Given the great form of Durban City, it will be hard for Kaizer Chiefs to win even if they are playing at home as they are low on confidence and also have a long injury list as well as suspensions that includes their dependable defenders Miguel Inacio and Aden McCarthy as well as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.

A clean sheet is unlikely from both sides but it appears that it will be a low-scoring game.