Kaizer Chiefs coach Nabi explains the absence of key duo Thabo Cele and Inacio Miguel from starting XI in Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates - ‘Unfortunately, it’s a game we felt we shouldn’t have lost’

Kaizer Chiefs scored first through Glodly Lilepo, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered yet another defeat to Orlando Pirates, making it their second loss to their Soweto rivals this season. Despite the early lead, Amakhosi failed to hold on as Pirates took control of the game.

Evidence Makgopa equalised before halftime, and young star Relebohile Mofokeng netted the winner to seal all three points for the Buccaneers. The result puts Chiefs’ hopes of a top-eight finish in serious doubt with just two league games remaining.

Lilepo continues to be one of the few consistent performers in the team, offering flashes of brilliance. However, Chiefs’ overall form remains worrying. Coach Nasreddine Nabi is yet to register a win against Jose Riveiro since taking charge.

“Cele is coming from an injury, and he hasn’t fully trained, and that's why he was not starting, not being fully fit to start the game, or to play 90 minutes,” Nabi explained as reported by iDiski Times.

“Inacio, the same thing, he’s coming from an injury, and he wasn’t fully fit to give a 100% performance.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a game we felt we shouldn’t have lost, looking at the performances of the two teams,” he explained.

“We started the game very well and feel we had the chance to kill the game, but unfortunately, we did not take the opportunity to kill the game in our best moments.

“Either the referee didn’t gives is our right, we feel we should have had a penalty at 1-0, and we conceded goals whilst we were in possession of the ball and had technical mistakes, leading to conceding.

“We need to kill the game in our best moments and the confidence of our opponents.”

Nabi’s credibility with Chiefs fans is under scrutiny as he heads into the Nedbank Cup final against Pirates.

A win at Moses Mabhida next week could salvage what has been a turbulent season.

Pirates, having already beaten Chiefs twice, will be full of confidence.

However, cup finals bring new pressure, and Nabi has one last shot at a major triumph.

Securing silverware could ease the pain of missing out on the top eight.

Chiefs now prepare for their third clash of the season against Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final.

After that, they have just two league matches left to try and secure a top-eight finish.

Maximum points are essential if they are to avoid finishing in the bottom half of the table.