Khothatso Leballo

GOAL gives you the details to follow the Cape Winelands side's trip to Zanzibar to face their Tanzanian opponents in this CAF Confederation Cup Group C match at Amaan Stadium on Sunday. After starting their campaign in this phase of the tournament with a 1-0 victory over AS Otoho d'Oyo, Stellies are out to build on that and reclaim the lead in this pool. Steve Barker's men have been struggling on the domestic front but doing well on the continent.

Amakhosi go into their next assignment having endured a run of two consecutive Group D matches without a win. After being edged 2-1 by Al Masry in their opening away fixture, the Soweto giants then survived a home scare against the White Knights, who head back home feeling robbed and have taken their issues with the continental football governing body.

The 23-year-old centre-back has been unfortunate to suffer a long-term injury just when he had established himself as a key figure for both club and country. As a result, his continental ambitions for this year have taken a heavy knock, halting what had been some steady progress. Still, he remains determined to fully recover and represent his country on the global stage.

The Bafana Bafana legend arrived in the East African country in March 2025 fresh from a stint at three-time European champions Manchester United. Taking charge of the Harambee Stars marked his first venture into national team management. However, a disastrous result earlier in November has placed him under intense scrutiny. Now, the Cape Town-born football great faces growing pressure to steady the team and prove he can thrive in international coaching.

GOAL gives you the details to follow Amakhosi's CAF Champions League hosting of the Egyptian giants at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. The Soweto giants opted to take this Group D match to Limpopo instead of their home in Gauteng. They are coming from 2-1 defeat by Al Masry in their first group game and their opponents Zamalek are on a high after edging ZESCO United 1-0.

Amakhosi are trying to navigate the demanding terrain of continental football while also grappling with a challenging fitness situation in their squad. It has become a real test of their squad depth and the character of players as they push through some tough assignments in that state. Their domestic rivals Mamelodi Sundowns have grown accustomed to enduring such demands every season, setting the standard Amakhosi now hope to match.

Amakhosi play their second Group D match on Saturday, hosting Zamalek at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, keen to bury the disappointment of last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Al Masry. Securing maximum points at home remains the Soweto giants' top priority as they look to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive. The coaches could tweak the starting lineup to try and correct the shortcomings they showed last weekend.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder is already being spoken of as one of the brightest Bafana Bafana prospects. Now in his second season playing professional football, he has also featured at the FIFA World Cup for his age group. His rapid rise has fuelled strong rumours of a potential move abroad as his reported suitors continue to closely monitor his progress. However, there is a stumbling block standing in his way for now, delaying what looks like an inevitable step toward a bigger stage.

The former Al Ahly coach has tipped Amakhosi players to eventually dominate South Africa national team selections in the coming years. Masandawana have, in recent years, been the backbone of the Bafana Bafana, but that dominance has recently shifted to the Buccaneers. However, Mosimane believes Chiefs could soon restore balance in the national team setup by providing more players with support.

The 38-year-old coach gained valuable experience after being at the helm of both the Buccaneers and Masandawana in high-pressure environments. He now finds himself in another demanding role at MC Alger, where expectations remain just as high and intense. This comes after a season at Wydad Casablanca, where he further sharpened his tactical prowess.

The Soweto giants’ rising star is still battling to secure a consistent place in the Amakhosi first team despite all the hype around his talent. Adding to the pressure, one of the players he grew up with has already made a major breakthrough and is now an international player with a strong reputation in South African football. That contrast has intensified expectations on the 19-year-old to finally step up and prove his worth.

The White Knights arrive in Limpopo buoyed by their 1-0 victory over ZESCO United in last Sunday’s group opener. They now turn their attention to wounded Amakhosi, who are desperate to respond positively after opening their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Al Masry away in Egypt. Despite their bright start, the Cairo giants arrive with concerns after travelling without a number of key injured players. They will hope the fitness situation in their camp will not derail their momentum in what promises to be a tense battle.

The Buccaneers have been navigating the season trying to have balance in their matchday squads, especially due to injuries to key players. This has become a real test of their squad depth in a campaign where they still have the chance to finish with a treble or even four trophies. Being knocked out of the CAF Champions League has eased their schedule and reduced the strain on their players. With fewer responsibilities, they can now channel their full energy into achieving success on the domestic front.

Anticipation is high as the Belgian coach edges closer to announcing his final squad for the continental competition. His provisional list has already offered a glimpse of what the final group could look like, sparking debate about the positions still up for grabs. Notably, four Amakhosi players have been included, and all eyes will be on whether they survive the final cut after the Soweto giants failed to contribute a single Bafana Bafana player at the last AFCON edition.

The Soweto giants suffered defeat in their group opener away in Egypt, and that leaves them with a task to recover when they host Zamalek in Polokwane on Sunday. They will be out to avoid dropping points again as they eye reaching the tournament's Knockout stage. Failing to beat the White Knights could leave Amakhosi under pressure going into their third match of this pool,  something that might take a psychological toll on the players. 

Ever since he went to North Africa, starting with a stint at Wydad Casablanca and now in Algeria, the youthful coach has never met his former employers, Masandawana. The only time he came up against the Brazilians was when he was at Orlando Pirates as an assistant after leaving the Tshwane giants. Now a battle looms between Rhulani Mokwena and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Once more, the Amakhosi product was a shining star for Galaxy as he scored and provided an assist. The goalless draw will add more pressure on former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt, as Durban City have failed to return to winning ways. The PSL debutants have only one win in the last five games across all competitions and were recently eliminated from the Carling Knockout.

The DR Congo international drew significant attention in October after his dramatic showing at Orlando Pirates’ stadium. His display even caught the interest of Kaizer Chiefs players Bruce Bvuma and George Matlou, who video-called him in a light-hearted jab at their Soweto rivals. Adding to that, popular Amakhosi supporter Papa Wawa presented the defender with a special gift upon his return to South Africa last week. That has all heightened the buzz around the player’s growing profile.