Kaizer Chiefs face an uphill battle this Friday as they look to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Zambian side Red Arrows in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round at Moses Mabhida Stadium

Amakhosi suffered a narrow defeat in the first leg in Zambia last weekend, conceding in the 75th minute from a corner kick as their struggles for consistency continued this season.

Despite the setback, coach Fernando da Cruz remains confident that his side can turn things around on home soil and secure progression to the next round.

“We conceded one goal on a corner, but we are, until now, focused on the second leg and our game at home, because we know that we are able to win this second leg,” said Da Cruz.

The Chiefs coach admitted that his team struggled to impose itself in the first half but showed improvement after the break.

“We played the first half with no aggression. We were not there to fight the duels. The second half was better. We didn’t create a lot of chances, but we played a better second half,” he said.

Da Cruz also defended his decision to substitute Vilakati, explaining that the change was made because the player was tiring and the team needed fresh legs.

He rejected suggestions that the substitution contributed to Red Arrows taking control of the match, maintaining that his side was still managing the game before conceding from the set piece.

The coach also addressed concerns about the playing surface at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, admitting that the conditions did not suit his team’s style of football.

“The pitch was not to our advantage. It was not a very good pitch for us to develop our football game. But we must adapt. We must play with the conditions, and I think the players adapted relatively well,” he said.

With pressure mounting amid an inconsistent run of results in domestic competition and Africa, Da Cruz acknowledged that the demands on his team remain high.

“The pressure has always been there, from the first day, and it is still there today. It is pressure that I put on myself, so there is no problem. I continue to work, and the group is working well,” he said.

The French coach believes his team needs to improve its attacking efficiency and become more threatening in the final third.

“We are missing a little bit of success because we are doing some interesting things. We lack efficiency, and we need more weight in our attacks. But by working, I am convinced that it will come,” he added.

Kaizer Chiefs will now look to make home advantage count when they host Red Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, knowing that they must overturn the one-goal deficit to keep their CAF Confederation Cup campaign alive.

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