Kaizer Chiefs have moved their CAF Confederation Cup Group D home fixture against Egyptian giants Zamalek SC out of Gauteng, with a date change confirmed. The Soweto giants have adjusted the date to accommodate their North African opponents.
The match will take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, departing from the team’s usual FNB Stadium in Soweto. Furthermore, the fixture has been brought forward by one day and will be played on Saturday, 29 November, instead of the initially scheduled Sunday, 30 November.
The decision to move the match away from Johannesburg comes after the club confirmed that Dobsonville Stadium, which hosted their preliminary round match against AS Simba, is not accredited for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages.
Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr. explained the situation following the draw in Randburg.
“So Dobsonville isn’t an accredited stadium for the group stages. So, it was just for the prelims. I think it’s a very important question because I know the atmosphere was amazing… But unfortunately, and it’s important for us to say, Dobsonville isn’t accredited for the CAF Confed Cup stages. So it won’t be a venue that we’re able to use,” said Motaung Jr.
WHY THE DATE CHANGE REQUEST BY ZAMALEK
The date change to the 29th of November was granted following a request from Zamalek. The Egyptian club has players called up to the Egyptian national team for the upcoming Arab Cup. Playing the game a day earlier allows their national team contingent to travel in time for the tournament in Qatar, where Egypt is scheduled to face the UAE on 6 December 2025.
The fixture is a renewal of an old rivalry, as the two African powerhouses have a history that dates back over three decades.
The teams first met 31 years ago in the second round of the then-CAF Champions League in 1993. The first leg at FNB Stadium saw Chiefs triumph 2-1. Zamalek won the second leg 1-0 in Egypt, progressing to the next round on the away goals rule with the aggregate scores level at 2-2.
Meanwhile, Chiefs’ group stage journey begins away from home against fellow Group D side Al Masry in Cairo on Sunday, 23 November. Thereafter, they return for this much-anticipated home clash against the five-time African Champions and two-time CAF Confederation Cup winners, Zamalek.
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