Amakhosi face a testing challenge this coming Friday evening in having to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Red Arrows of Zambia when the teams meet in the second preliminary round, second leg of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban.

With qualification for the group phase of the competition at stake, the team going out to do battle for the badge will be immensely helped by a large turnout of the fantastic Amakhosi Faithful to fill the stands and create the atmosphere that makes home advantage really count.

Goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner believes the support from the Khosi Nation is imperative to Chiefs’ ambitions to progress further, telling www.kaizerchiefs.com, “This game is very important for the Club. Our goal is to advance to the group stage. We are a big team and we are in a big competition. We need our fans out in number to support us because in Zambia their fans made it a bit of an ‘intimidating’ environment, so we need our brilliant fans to reciprocate for the whole 90 minutes because it won’t be easy and our fans are our 12^th man who help us a lot to get over the line on the field.”

For Chiefs, a 1-0 win would take the tie into extra time and possibly penalties, and a 2-0 win would see Chiefs through 2-1 on aggregate over both legs. However, with the away goals rule in effect, should Red Arrows score in the second leg, Chiefs would have to win by a two-goal margin, at least, to go through. If the aggregate scores are level, Red Arrows would win on away goals.

“It’s obvious, but our first task is to get one goal and then go for another one, as well as focus on keeping a clean sheet,” Leaner says.

“We have analysed where we went wrong in Zambia and had a look at how they played and where we might capitalise on some of their weaknesses, so we believe we can succeed on Friday,” he added.

Tickets for the second leg clash are available through Computicket, as well as at Shoprite and Checkers outlets nationwide for R80. Suite tickets are available for R1699 and R2899, and can be purchased through the MMS via email MMS.Hospitality@durban.gov.za or phone at 031 322 3115.

The fixture is scheduled for Friday, 23 October, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with kick-off at 18:00.