ZESCO United 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs: Pule Mmodi fires Amakhosi to vital Confederation Cup win
CAF Confederation Cup
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe wins a header against Peter Musukuma of ZESCO United during their CAF Confederation Cup Group D match at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday, 25 January 2026. The former Mamelodi Sundowns man played a pivotal role as Amakhosi secured a gritty 1-0 away victory. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Kaizer Chiefs finally got their CAF Confederation Cup group stage campaign up and running after beating ZESCO United 1-0 in their third Group D match at a bumpy Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday afternoon.
Chiefs remain third in the standings with four points, level with Zamalek, who were set to face Egyptian rivals and log leaders Al Masry in a later kick-off. With this win, Amakhosi will be confident of completing a double over ZESCO and keeping their knockout stage hopes alive when the teams meet in the return leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday.
Chiefs have plenty of motivation to believe they can achieve that feat. They became the first PSL side to beat ZESCO at home, while they were also victorious when the two teams last met in South Africa, in the same competition, seven years ago.
Amakhosi are currently navigating calm waters as they sit third in the Betway Premiership, two points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. With co-coach Cedric Kaze having suggested critics will "eat humble pie" by the end of the season, they cannot afford to falter.
While Chiefs were criticised for a quiet summer transfer window, belief in their squad depth has since paid off. The win in Ndola secured back-to-back victories since the restart, following their 1-0 league win over Golden Arrows during the week.
The victory over Arrows saw goalkeeper Brandon Petersen keep his third clean sheet in a row.
Goalscorer Pule Mmodi (centre) celebrates with teammates after firing Kaizer Chiefs into the lead against ZESCO United during their CAF Confederation Cup Group D encounter at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday, 25 January 2026. Mmodi’s clinical first-half strike proved to be the difference as Amakhosi claimed a vital 1-0 away victory to reignite their continental campaign. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: backpagepix
With no defensive crisis to manage, co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze opted for a more offensive and creative approach. Khanyisa Mayo replaced Makabi Lilepo up front, while Mfundo Vilakazi started ahead of Mduduzi Shabalala. Meanwhile, the speedy Dillan Solomons started at right-back ahead of Thabiso Monyane.
The approach paid off almost immediately. From a corner kick, Flávio Silva connected in the air, forcing Philip Sakutuka into a save. The rebound fell kindly for Pule Mmodi, who blasted the ball home for his first goal of the season.
That early goal, coupled with sloppy defending, exposed a makeshift ZESCO backline following the departure of several players during the AFCON break. With Chiefs aware of the hosts' frailties, they looked to Vilakazi’s creativity to further unlock the defence. The Amajita talisman nearly did so with a defence-splitting pass for Silva, only for Kabaso Chongo to clear the danger.
ESCO United’s Abraham Siankombo (left) challenges Kaizer Chiefs striker Khanyisa Mayo for possession during their CAF Confederation Cup Group D fixture at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday, 25 January 2026. Mayo, on loan from Algerian side CR Belouizdad, made a rare start as Amakhosi claimed a historic 1-0 away victory. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: backpagepix
Chiefs continued to apply pressure before the interval, prompting the hosts to make two changes five minutes before half-time. Chiefs made two further changes at the break, with Monyane and Lilepo replacing Solomons and Mayo.
While the duo helped Chiefs retain possession, it was ZESCO, through Amine Hiver, who nearly found an equaliser, though his effort went wide. Buoyed by their supporters, the hosts enjoyed more possession in the second half, but the visitors held firm to secure their first clean sheet and victory of the group stage.
SCOREBOARD
ZESCO UNITED 0
KAIZER CHIEFS (1) 1
Mmodi 3’