Chiefs warned: 'Zamalek not as fierce, but...'

Former Baroka FC coach Wedson Nyirenda has offered advice to Kaizer Chiefs ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage campaign, which includes fixtures against Zamalek SC. Chiefs have been drawn into a challenging Group D alongside two Egyptian sides, Zamalek and Al Masry SC, as well as Zambia's ZESCO United, a club Nyirenda coached before. The Glamour Boys have enjoyed an impressive run under the leadership of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, performing strongly in both the Betway Premiership and the Confederation Cup. They booked their place in the group stage by defeating Angolan side Kabuscorp SCP and DR Congo's AS Simba Kolwezi in the preliminary rounds. Amakhosi will open their group-stage campaign with an away fixture against Al Masry in Egypt later in November, before hosting Zamalek in the same month. The encounter with ZESCO United is scheduled to take place in Zambia in January 2026. Nyirenda, a former Chiefs striker himself, has urged them to maintain discipline and tactical focus when facing experienced teams like Zamalek. "It is a very interesting and exciting draw altogether, two North African teams vs two Southern African teams. Zamalek is not as fierce as they used to be, but they must be taken serious," Nyirenda told KickOff.com. "Al Masry have been a regular campaigner in the CAF competitions over the years, and they too need to be treated with much respect and not fear. READ | 'No one is happy inside Mamelodi Sundowns' "Between Chiefs and ZESCO, I will be mute but very attentive when watching the two teams lock horns," added the Telkom Knockout Cup-winning coach. "Kaizer Chiefs have been on form lately and they look good to challenge, but football has so many faces. It would need a great deal of discipline and concentration from them to pass this stage."