Mbewe Gifted New Wheels After Red Arrows Dump Kaizer Chiefs Out of CAF Confederation Cup

Red Arrows head coach Chisi Mbewe has received a major reward after guiding his Zambian side to a historic qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages at the expense of South African giants Kaizer Chiefs.

Mbewe was presented with a Toyota Mark X by Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni following Red Arrows' impressive triumph over Amakhosi in the second preliminary round of the continental competition.

The gesture came after the team returned to Zambia from Durban, where they secured qualification through a dramatic penalty shootout at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Mbewe Rewarded for Historic Achievement

Red Arrows entered the second leg with a narrow advantage after winning the first encounter 1-0 in Zambia. However, Chiefs responded in the return fixture, with Bradley Cross scoring a second-half header to secure a 1-0 victory on the night and level the aggregate score at 1-1.

With neither side able to find the decisive goal, the contest proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Red Arrows held their nerve to win 3-2 and book their place in the group stages.

The victory marked a significant milestone for the Zambian outfit, which secured its first-ever qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group phase.

According to reports from Zambia, Nyoni, who also serves as Red Arrows' patron, personally welcomed the team at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport following their return from South Africa.

The commander subsequently presented Mbewe with a Toyota Mark X to assist him with travelling to training sessions and carrying out his official duties.

Red Arrows Challenged to Target the Final

Nyoni congratulated the players and technical team for delivering the expected result, emphasising that their achievement should inspire them to pursue even greater success in the competition.

The commander also challenged Red Arrows to set their sights on reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final rather than becoming satisfied with merely reaching the group stages.

The achievement has attracted significant attention in Zambia, with the team's success viewed as an important moment for the country's football fraternity.

Red Arrows' victory also demonstrated their resilience against an experienced Kaizer Chiefs side that had hoped to continue its continental campaign.

Chiefs Left to Reflect After Continental Exit

For Kaizer Chiefs, the elimination represents a disappointing setback as the Soweto giants turn their attention back to domestic competitions.

Despite winning the return leg, Amakhosi were unable to overturn the first-leg deficit and ultimately paid the price for missed opportunities.

Meanwhile, Mbewe and his players will now prepare for the challenges of the group stages, where they will face stronger opposition in their pursuit of further continental success.

With a new vehicle and a historic achievement behind him, Mbewe has every reason to celebrate. However, the challenge now is to transform this breakthrough into a sustained campaign capable of taking Red Arrows even further in African football.

Source https://x.com/i/status/2114617455343542764