NDOLA, Zambia — Kaizer Chiefs have finally silenced the doubters and rewritten the history books. In a high-stakes encounter at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Glamour Boys secured a gritty 1-0 victory over ZESCO United, marking their first-ever competitive win on Zambian soil.
The result is a massive lifeline for Nasreddine Nabi’s men, catapulting them back into contention for a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup knockout stages.
The Breakthrough: Sirino’s Magic Touch
In a match characterized by physical battles and high tension, it was the veteran playmaker Gaston Sirino who provided the decisive moment.
- The Goal: In the 64th minute, Sirino capitalized on a defensive lapse from the hosts, curling a sublime strike into the far corner that left the ZESCO goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
- Defensive Resilience: Following the goal, Chiefs were forced to withstand a literal “Copperbelt onslaught.” However, the defensive pairing of Inacio Miguel and Rushwin Dortley remained resolute, ensuring goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari kept a vital clean sheet.
A Historic Milestone
Before today, Kaizer Chiefs had never beaten a Zambian team in their own backyard in a formal CAF competition. By clinching these three points, Amakhosi have achieved several key objectives:
- Breaking the “ZESCO Hoodoo”: Avenging their 2019 exit at the hands of the Zambian giants.
- Group D Lifeline: Moving from one point to four, pulling level with Zamalek (pending their result against Al Masry).
- Morale Boost: Proving they can grind out results in the hostile “jungle” of North African and SADC continental football.
Group D Standings (Provisional)
- Al Masry: 6 Points
- Kaizer Chiefs: 4 Points
- Zamalek: 4 Points
- ZESCO United: 0 Points
The Road Ahead: FNB Stadium Awaits
The job is only half done for the Naturena-based side. The “return leg” of this back-to-back fixture takes place next Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the FNB Stadium.
A win in Johannesburg would put Chiefs in a commanding position to qualify for the quarter-finals, a feat that seemed unlikely just 48 hours ago. Coach Nabi will be breathing a sigh of relief, but with several players picking up yellow cards in the heated Ndola atmosphere, squad depth will be tested in the coming week.
Source Credit: Based on reporting by The South African and CAF match statistics.
