Kaizer Chiefs moved themselves into pole position in CAF Confederation Cup Group D, but it left some mixed feelings.
Amakhosi’s 2-1 win over Al Masry at the Peter Mokaba Stadium lifted them to the top of the standings, helped further by ZESCO United’s surprise 1-0 victory over Zamalek in Ndola on the same night.
Leading 2-1 and knowing that a two-goal margin would have guaranteed quarterfinal qualification before the final group match in Cairo, Kaizer Chiefs never truly pushed for the third goal.
The tempo dropped, urgency disappeared, and the group remained tight ahead of the final games.
After the match, head coach Khalil Ben Youssef failed to note the missed opportunity.
“It’s a good result but we have to think about ourselves,” Youssef told SABC Sport. “We have to prepare ourselves for the trip. It is a final game, we have to prepare to fight. We hoped to finish today.
“We played a good game, we showed even last game against Stellenbosch, it was a very nice game. We missed opportunities. I think the performances are coming step by step. The team is playing very well.
“Everyone is showing good spirit. There are very positive vibes inside,” the Kaizer Chiefs mentor concluded.
WHY KAIZER CHIEFS ITUMELENG KHUNE IS DISAPPOINTED
Those comments, however, drew a sharp response from club legend Itumeleng Khune, who felt Amakhosi failed to read the moment and questioned whether the importance of goal difference was properly communicated.
“Very disappointing,” Khune said on SABC Sport. “Because that could have been communicated before the game started [that Kaizer Chiefs needed to win with a two-goal margin to seal quarterfinal qualification].
“The players should have been told that ‘guys, if we were to compare apples with apples, this is the juice you might get,” Khune added.
“They focused on themselves, yes, it’s very important to look at your own results and performance but again, this table, is too tight.
“They should have known better to say guys, let’s look at the comparisons in terms of goal difference. It is very disappointing that this was not communicated to the coach, the players should have been told they needed that extra goal.”
Also read: Itumeleng Khune names his favourite Kaizer Chiefs player
Kaizer Chiefs remain in a strong position and still control their own fate, but Khune’s frustration reflects an understanding of the pressure awaiting Amakhosi against Zamalek in Cairo this weekend.
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