Mmodi Strike Earns Chiefs Crucial CAF Confederation Cup Win
Pule Mmodi’s early strike was enough to secure Kaizer Chiefs a crucial victory over ZESCO United in a CAF Confederation Cup Group D match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday.
Mmodi reacted quickest from a corner that ZESCO failed to clear, bundling the ball home in the second minute to give Amakhosi an early lead.
The win marks Chiefs’ first victory in the group stages, moving them level on four points with Zamalek in second place, while Al Masry top the group with six points.
The two Egyptian sides, Zamalek and Al Masry, are set to face each other later on Saturday at Cairo International Stadium, a result that could further shape the group standings.
Chiefs will host ZESCO United next weekend at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where they will be aiming to complete a double over the Zambian side.
The two teams last met in the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers, when ZESCO claimed a 3-1 home win through goals from Lazarous Kambole and a brace by Jesse Were away. Kambole later joined Chiefs that same year but failed to make an impact at the Naturena-based club.
In the return leg at FNB Stadium, Were once again proved a thorn in Chiefs’ side, scoring twice as ZESCO secured a 2-1 victory.
ZESCO are also a team Mamelodi Sundowns defeated in the CAF Champions League semi-final en route to lifting the continental title in 2016.
Chiefs were not only eager to end their poor run against ZESCO but were also desperate to register their first Group D win, having drawn one match and lost another in their opening two fixtures.
They came into the match sitting third from bottom in the group, and the victory has lifted them to four points, although they remain in third place.
Amakhosi wasted little time in asserting their intentions. Mmodi finished from close range after Inacio Miguel’s header struck the crossbar. The former Golden Arrows attacker made no mistake with the rebound, wheeling away in celebration.
That early goal proved decisive, allowing Chiefs to control the match as the hosts rarely troubled the visitors.
