CAF Confederations Cup news

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.

The former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns star continues to make his mark for the Moroccan club, once again proving influential as Wydad Casablanca powered to their second victory of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage on Friday, 28 November. His impact has kept the giants firmly in contention, underlining his growing importance on the continental stage.

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.

The 27-year-old is still waiting to make his Amakhosi debut after joining in the off‑season. Signed from English side Port Vale and son of former Manning Rangers player Donovan Chislett, the midfielder’s absence has sparked growing questions among fans, who wonder why the Soweto giants have yet to unleash their new recruit.

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 Glamour Boys brought in 11 new players to bolster their otherwise struggling team ahead of the ongoing 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign. While some of the players are yet to make their competitive debut, others are struggling for game time including one individual who has won several top trophies with his former team.

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.

Two Amakhosi and Buccaneers stars are being closely compared as their seasons take contrasting directions. One has been in outstanding form, delivering consistent performances that have drawn widespread praise. The other, however, has seen his game go on a decline, facing harsh criticism from supporters as he struggles to rediscover his best form that landed him a contract with the Soweto giants.

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.

Teams are already working hard to identify the players who can improve their teams in the January Transfer window as they continue chasing their targets of the season. Among the teams that might end up losing some top players, as it has been the norm recently, is Steve Barker's Stellies, whose star has been linked with a move abroad.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].

A section of the fans and football stakeholders in Mzansi have not been too happy with the 73-year-old Belgian, who, recently, named his 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) provisional squad, insisting there are players who should have made the team but were overlooked. The former international argues the tactician knows what he wants for his team.

The Glamour Boys have been doing relatively well in the ongoing season, especially in the Premier Soccer League, where they are trailing joint leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates by three points, with the former having played one more game. The Soweto giants are also competing in the CAF Inter-Club competition, where they hope to reach the latter stages.

Amakhosi will not be without some of their influential youngsters during the trip to the United Kingdom. Also missing is the experienced tactician who has played a crucial role in the development of the team. The Naturena-based giants' official has now explained what exactly ruled them out of the trip.

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.

South Africa are among the nine teams from the African continent that secured an automatic ticket for the prestigious global competition that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Hugo Broos' men topped Group C of the qualifiers ahead of Nigeria and Benin to qualify for the tournament that they last participated in way back in 2010 as hosts.