Kaizer Chiefs rediscover scoring touch in CAF Cup

JOHANNESBURG - South African club Kaizer Chiefs scored three goals for the first time since March to beat Simba from the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-1 on Sunday in a CAF Confederation Cup qualifier.

The victory in Soweto followed a goalless first leg last weekend in the final qualifying round for the group stage in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Chiefs won 3-1 on aggregate and the other 15 qualifiers included the second South African contenders, Stellenbosch, who hammered 15 Agosto of Equatorial Guinea 4-1 in Cape Town after a goalless first leg.

Nigerian Etiosa Ighodaro put Chiefs ahead inside three minutes, Zitha Kwinika doubled the lead and Congolese Makabi Lilepo made it 3-0 with a powerful header off a corner on 25 minutes.

A late Aden McCarthy own-goal flattered Simba, who were competing in Africa for the first time after winning the Congolese FA Cup.

Stellenbosch, who have been struggling to score, hit four for the second time in five days as they cruised into the mini-league phase, with the draw scheduled for November3 in Johannesburg.

Alex de Jong, recently recalled by 2026 World Cup qualifiers New Zealand, was among the scorers for 2025 Confederation Cup semi-finalists Stellenbosch.

An unexpected participant in the draw, which will divide the 16 survivors into four groups, will be Nairobi United of Kenya.

They lost 2-0 to two-time Confederation Cup winners Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in Mediterranean resort Sousse, leaving the clubs level at 2-2 on aggregate.

But newly promoted Kenyan Premier League outfit Nairobi won the penalty shootout 7-6 to become the second club after Gor Mahia from the east African nation to reach the Confederation Cup group stage.

Other qualifiers include two former winners, Zamalek of Egypt and USM Alger of Algeria.