Kaizer Chiefs’ ambitions of progressing to the group stages of the Confederation Cup were dealt a huge blow after they lost 1-0 to Red Arrows in Zambia on Saturday.

Arrows scored through Alassane Diarra after 76 minutes at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium after Amakhosi failed to deal with a corner kick and now must turn it around in the second leg in Johannesburg next week.

In front of their own supporters, Amakhosi must put up a much better performance than they dished out in Ndola where they failed to control the game and did not create enough chances.

One of the areas that coach Fernando da Cruz will not be happy about is that they conceded from a set piece, an area that has been a problem for them on occasion.

Da Cruz went into this match with a strong line-up of Renaldo Leaner, Thabiso Monyane, Thabo Moloisane, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Mduduzi Shabalala, Mfundo Vilakazi and Luke Baartman.

To try to get the much-needed goals in the second half, Da Cruz introduced attack-minded players like Flavio da Silva, Etiosa Ighodaro and Wandile Duba for ineffective Baartman, Vilakazi and Shabalala.

Amakhosi suffered a blow after 30 minutes when defender Monyane was replaced by Thulani Mabaso after he suffered an injury and it remains to be seen if he will be available for the return leg.

If Amakhosi fails to progress to the group stages, it will be a massive blow as they have ambitions of staying relevant in continental football, an area they want to feature in.

Over the past few years, the standard of the Confederation Cup has improved significantly and most of the teams in the group stages and knockout stages are of high quality.

Most of the teams in the business end of the Confederation Cup are usually in the latter stages of the Champions League and they provide serious competition that will benefit most of their players.

It will be a missed opportunity for players like Bradley Cross, Shabalala, Vilakazi, Baartman, Langelihle Phili, Asanele Velebayi, Faiz Abrahams, Wandile Duba and Ighodaro.

In Botswana, Pirates earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over African Stars of Namibia in their Champions League qualification clash played at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.

Attacker Tshepang Moremi, who has been one of the stand-out performers for the Buccaneers so far this season in all competitions, scored the all-important goal after 75 minutes.

With his form, it is expected that Moremi is expected to feature in the squad of Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Kenya next month.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou didn’t move much from their league win over TS Galaxy during the week with Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Lebone Seema, Bulelani Sigomoshe, Simphiwe Selepe and Gamphani Lungu keeping their places.

Ouaddou recalled Nkosikhona Ndaba, Thalente Mbatha and Yanela Mbuthuma to the starting line-up and they brought a different dimension to their defensive and attacking structure.

And he introduced Sbangani Zulu, Evidence Makgopa, Mpho Padime, Mthetheli Mthiyane for Sibisi, Mbuthuma, Moremi and Selepe as impact from the bench.

With this win, Pirates have put themselves in a good position to progress to the group stages where Ouaddou and his youthful squad are going to be tested to the limit at a higher level.

He is going to rely on senior players like Chaine, Sibisi, Deon Hotto, Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, Moremi, Mohau Nkota and Makgopa who have continental experience with Bafana Bafana to mount a serious challenge.

If they make it to the group stages, the other beneficiary is Mosimane because emerging players like Seema and Mbuthuma will gain valuable experience.