Kaizer Chiefs face Al Masry in ‘cup final’ CAF Confederation Cup clash

Kaizer Chiefs are hellbent on treating their CAF Confederation Cup penultimate group-stage clash against Al Masry as a “cup final” when the two sides meet at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

Chiefs are currently third on the Group C log with seven points, level with the Egyptian side. As a result, they need a positive result from the match to ensure they remain in contention for a top-two finish ahead of their final group game away to log leaders Zamalek in a week’s time.

Reports emerging from the Amakhosi camp suggest the team is approaching the encounter as a must-win affair, with the outcome expected to play a decisive role in determining their progression to the next round of the competition.

“I think it will be an important game for the two teams,” co-coach Ben Youssef said, during a pre-match press conference held deep in the bowels of the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. “It’s a game that could decide who finishes first or second and qualifies from the group stage.

“From our side, I think we finished our preparations this morning with all the players ready to fight. Like we said from the beginning, we are taking each game as a cup game and we are ready to win.”

Chiefs are under pressure to progress to the next round, as this competition represents one of their only two remaining chances to claim silverware this season, alongside the Betway Premiership title. This follows their exit from all domestic cup competitions, including the Nedbank Cup, MTN8 and Carling Knockout.

The club’s football manager, Bobby Motaung, has also stressed the importance of the continental campaign, particularly after Chiefs’ loss to Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup last-32 match on Wednesday night in Cape Town.

“We are going into this game as if it’s a cup final,” Motaung said.

“We have been doing well so far, until the loss on Wednesday. We have to bounce back and reclaim our position.

“We want to go all the way to the final of this competition. We have this cup and the league to challenge for this season.”

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch face AS Otoho in the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Congo-Brazzaville, also at 3pm, on Sunday. 

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