Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe has explained why Zambia’s Zesco United are ‘an awkward team to play against’. Chiefs host Zesco at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday in the second leg of their Group D CAF Confederation Cup encounter. Amakhosi won 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Ndola last week.
Following a positive start to 2026, the Soweto giants are in a high-stakes race to secure their passage out of the group stages. Maboe, who has racked up over 50 appearances in CAF club competitions, highlighted the unique tactical challenges posed by the Zambian giants.
Maboe described Zesco as a uniquely difficult opponent, citing their direct style of play and physical resilience as major hurdles.
WHAT MAKES LEBO MABOE SAY ZESCO ARE AWKWARD?
“They are a very awkward team to play against because they play a lot of long balls,” Maboe explained. “They want to play the second ball. They want to fight. For us, it’s about trying to frustrate them by keeping possession and finding our pocket players.”
The midfielder noted that while the first leg offered a glimpse into Zesco’s defensive discipline, their behaviour changes once they are forced to chase a result.
“They seemed to open up a bit when they were chasing the game,” he added. “I think the first goal is going to be very important. If we get that early goal, they must come out eventually, and it becomes a completely different game.”
Despite the awkward nature of the tie, Maboe remains bullish about the talent at Naturena. Having joined Chiefs from Mamelodi Sundowns in August 2025, he believes the current squad has the necessary maturity to handle the pressure.
Chiefs have enjoyed a steady climb in performance since the turn of the year. The return leg provides a “much better field” according to Maboe, which favours their ball-retention strategy.
The 31-year-old emphasised that the team is “more than capable” of collecting all three points to solidify their standing in the group. A win on Sunday will put the Chiefs in a good position as they look to get into the knockout stages. They are third in the group with four points from three games, just a point behind Zamalek.
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