Red Arrows have 90 minutes in Durban to turn a one-goal lead into a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The second leg of their second preliminary round tie against Kaizer Chiefs kicks off at Moses Mabhida Stadium at 15:00 Central African Time on Friday 23 October, ZamFoot reports. The Zambian Premier League side won the first leg 1–0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, where Alassane Diarra scored the only goal in the 76th minute, according to Africa Soccer.
That first leg, played on Saturday 17 October, was closer than the scoreline. Africa Soccer reports that Arrows created several chances and missed others before Diarra's late strike, and quotes coach Chisi Mbewe telling ZamFoot afterwards that his players had shown great commitment despite the missed opportunities, and that the team needed to stay compact in South Africa and deny Chiefs the space to control the game.
What the two camps are saying
News Diggers reports that the squad flew to South Africa on Wednesday 21 October and that Mr Mbewe said his side was bracing for an all-out approach from Chiefs, had tightened its preparations accordingly, and had found the travelling squad difficult to select. His first assistant, Kalililo Kakonje, told ZamFoot that the players had prepared adequately and understood that a disciplined performance was needed to protect the lead.
We are ready for the game. We know what is at stake.
— Kalililo Kakonje, Red Arrows first assistant coach, speaking to ZamFoot before the team's departure, as reported on Thursday 22 October
Kaizer Chiefs, who play in South Africa's Betway Premiership, have framed the return leg as a rescue mission. The club's own website carried pieces on Thursday 22 October headed "Amakhosi determined to turn Red Arrows tie around" and "Chiefs boosted by key returns ahead of CAF clash", and its preview of the first leg had already looked ahead to "next week's decisive second-leg clash in Durban".
The prize is a place in the Confederation Cup group stage, which would, ZamFoot says, make Arrows one of five Zambian representatives to reach that phase. Neither ZamFoot nor News Diggers reports the travelling squad or any injury news, and no kick-off time other than 15:00 Central African Time has been published.
Sources: ZamFoot, “Kakonje backs Red Arrows to finish the job against Kaizer Chiefs” (22 Oct 2026); Africa Soccer, “Red Arrows take first-leg lead over Kaizer Chiefs in CAF Confederation Cup” (18 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “We're ready for what Chiefs will throw at us – Mbewe” (22 Oct 2026); Kaizer Chiefs, “Chiefs make one change against Red Arrows in Zambia” (17 Oct 2026).