Chiefs must regroup fast for CAF after league setback says Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs will need to dig deep and regroup quickly as they head into their CAF Confederation Cup return this week, just days after suffering a discouraging defeat in the league.

Amakhosi, back in continental competition after some difficult years, open their campaign against Kabuscorp in Angola at 5pm on Saturday. But they do so on the back foot, having been handed a 3-1 defeat by Sekhukhune United at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night — their first loss of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

Coach Nasreddine Nabi admitted the timing was far from ideal, saying his side had been undone by their own errors, though he urged calm in the face of the setback.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted because we made many mistakes that led to goals being scored against us,” Nabi said after the match. While acknowledging there are areas that need strengthening, he added there was no reason to panic.

The coach pointed to issues in attack, where Chiefs created opportunities but lacked the finishing touch. “We did not attack in a completely satisfactory way. We managed to create chances in the game – but we couldn’t finish them. I want to say that Sekhukhune deserved the three points they got. What happened is not a big disaster because the season is still at the beginning.”

With the season still young, Nabi’s focus is firmly on ensuring his players bounce back in time for Saturday’s challenge. “Now we must pick ourselves up and prepare for the CAF Confederation Cup, because in that competition, you are eliminated if you don’t do well in the two matches.

"We are going to speak to the players so they can forget what happened in this game, because we must perform well in the one coming,” he said.