Kaizer Chiefs braced for the Confed Cup group assignments with a mindset of no excuses

Kaizer Chiefs central defender Inacio Miguel has declared that the team will adopt a rigorous “no excuses” mindset as they embark on their journey through the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Drawing on experience from his past with Angola’s Petro de Luanda, Miguel knows what it takes to navigate the challenges ahead, particularly in what he describes as a “very difficult” Group D.

Chiefs find themselves pitted against formidable opponents: Egyptian giants Zamalek, Al Masry, and Zambia’s ZESCO United, a lineup many analysts consider one of the most challenging in this year’s tournament.

With Matchday-One set for November 21–23, the club understands that to advance to the quarter-finals, they must treat each of their six fixtures as knockout ties.

“First of all, it’s a moment of pride for us and for the fans to represent Kaizer Chiefs in Africa,” Miguel reflected, balancing his enthusiasm with realism. “We know we have a challenging group, but we were expecting that. We’re among the best clubs in Africa, and we are one of them.”

His extensive CAF experience leaves no room for doubt: there are no soft landings in this competition. “My experience from CAF is that there are no easy games,” Miguel stated emphatically.

“Wherever you play, matches are difficult and there is a lot of travelling. We have to focus on our 90-minute performance, that’s where we make the difference.”

In preparation, Miguel stressed the importance of entering every match with a cup-tie mentality, noting, “Every game is a final, even in the group stage. You can’t rely on ‘getting it back’ in the second game. We must go into every match with responsibility and the mentality that we have to do it.”

The Angolan defender acknowledges that solid performances in the domestic league have been beneficial, but warns of the contrasting environments between the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and CAF competitions. “PSL is PSL; CAF is CAF. The rhythm and the quality of some pitches differ. Our goal is to reach the same level in both and achieve our best in both competitions,” he explained, illustrating the distinctiveness of each challenge.

A crucial element in their strategy is the blend of experience and youthful exuberance within the squad. “I’m one more to add experience,” Miguel said, highlighting the benefits brought by older players, like Mduduzi Mdantsane, who played in a Champions League final in 2019.

He also praised young talents such as Mfundo Vilakazi and Aiden Du Preez, suggesting that this mix gives the Chiefs a strong chance of success and brings joy to their supporters.

With only two teams expected to advance from the group stage and with significant financial incentives, the stakes are high for the Chiefs. As the squad heads into what Miguel describes as six “finals”, all eyes will be on their performance, starting with the opener in Egypt at the end of November.