Inacio Miguel flags Chiefs' main issue ahead of crucial CAF tie

23.10.26 12:00 CAF Confederation Cup

Kaizer Chiefs

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Red Arrows

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Kaizer Chiefs vice-captain Inacio Miguel has flagged the main issue at Naturena ahead of the return leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second round tie against Red Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.

The Glamour Boys head into the encounter on the back foot, having succumbed to a defeat in the first meeting in Zambia, falling to a solitary goal from attacking midfielder Alassane Diarra.

Chiefs will be desperate to find the back of the net in a bid to salvage the tie as they look to avoid an early exit, while conceding the crucial away goal could prove costly to their quest for a group stage spot.

With the do-or-die match on the horizon, Miguel has pinpointed the lack of aggression as a huge concern, stating that his team, more often than not, switch on late in the games.

“I think the main issue right now is how can we match the level of Red Arrows because if you see the game, if you see the big picture, they were more aggressive than us,” said the Chiefs centre-half.

"And it's something that the coach tried to pass for us that we have fight. Sometimes I feel like our team is too sloppy to get into the game, sometimes we delay to get in the game and Red Arrows were ready to fight.

The Angola international, however, has vowed that Amakhosi will display a fighting spirit in the reverse fixture, and says the players are always the first ones to feel disappointed and frustrated after a bad result.

“But now it's our turn, we play at home, we play in front of our fans and a word to the fans it's to understand that we also get frustrated, we also get disappointed, we are the first ones actually,” Miguel added.

"Obviously, the emotions go to the fans because sometimes they travel from far. We have an example of playing in Durban and people come from all over South Africa.

"I personally feel that I can't disappoint them, at least the minimum that we can do is fight, that's what we're going to ask from our players. I don't care about technically, I don't care about quality, I want to fight.

"Sometimes I'm being judged by being very aggressive and that kind of player that can easily get booked, but that's the way that I see things, if we don't fight more than them, we are far from them.

"So, there will be a fighting spirit in there from the first whistle, and that's what we're looking for.

Chiefs made the group stage of the Confederation Cup last season, and now face a challenge to book a spot at the expense of Arrows, who are yet to taste defeat across all competitions this season.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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Kaizer Chiefs

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