Kaizer Chiefs confirm begining CAF campaign without coach Nasreddine Nabi amid licensing fallout

Kaizer Chiefs are set to begin life without coach Nasreddine Nabi when they kick off their CAF Confederation Cup campaign in the first round of the preliminary qualifiers, away to Angola-based Kabuscorp at Estádio 11 de Novembro on Saturday afternoon (5pm kick-off).

“Kaizer Chiefs confirms that Head Coach Nasreddine Nabi is currently not with the team as discussions between the club and the coach remain ongoing,” the club said in a statement on Friday morning.

“The matter is internal in nature and is being addressed through the appropriate processes.”

Nabi’s absence follows reports that the two parties agreed to mutually part ways on Wednesday morning, after the coach failed to update his Uefa Pro License in time for the start of the Confederation Cup—a requirement for CAF competitions.

And that’s disappointing from both sides.

When Chiefs ended their 10-year trophy drought by winning the Nedbank Cup in May, they knew then and there that they had automatically qualified for the Confederation Cup. So, when they decided to continue with Nabi for another season, everyone involved should have ensured he had the necessary qualifications for continental competition.

After all, both parties seemed eager to return to continental football this season.

The last time Chiefs competed on the continent, they fell short at the final hurdle—losing to Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final. Nabi, meanwhile, also missed out on Confederation Cup glory with Young Africans three seasons ago, after losing to USM Alger in the final.

Granted, the relationship between Chiefs and Nabi hasn’t been rock-solid, despite the continuation at the start of the season. It has been reported that Chiefs initially considered suspending the coach for not updating his coaching badges. That’s when he reportedly decided to terminate the relationship altogether.

So, it’s safe to say the licensing issue may have been the last straw. However, it would be unfair to suggest that either party deliberately sabotaged the other by not ensuring the paperwork was in order.

Before their 3-1 defeat to Sekhukhune United, Chiefs had gone into the Fifa break on a five-game unbeaten run, with four wins and one draw. They had also yet to concede a goal.

Nabi’s trusted lieutenants, Cedric Kaze and Ben Khalil Youssef, ran operations at the beginning of the season, winning all three opening games while Nabi was back home on compassionate leave.

Kaze and Khalil Youssef are now set to guide Chiefs against Kabuscorp, as the internal dispute between Nabi and the club—along with legal discussions over a settlement—continues in Naturena.

To some, this may feel like a betrayal, considering Nabi brought Kaze and Khalil Youssef to Chiefs. But in reality, it’s not uncommon for assistants to stay on even after the head coach departs—despite the trio having initially arrived as a unit.

What will be interesting is whether Chiefs choose to continue with the pair—Kaze and Khalil Youssef—if they lead the team to the next round of the Confederation Cup and get back to winning ways in the league and the upcoming Carling Knockout as the relationship between Nabi and the club now seems beyond repair.

Should Chiefs decide to appoint a new head coach, will Kaze and Khalil Youssef be retained in their current roles, or will they also leave? That also remains to be seen.

For now, Kaze and Khalil Youssef must solely focus on the game in Angola, which marks the start of their unofficial audition to remain at the club. They’ll be looking to pick up where they left off at the beginning of the season, when they oversaw a winning run in Nabi’s absence.

They go into the clash with optimism, especially considering Kabuscorp are low on confidence after losing a domestic cup final to rivals Petro de Luanda last weekend.