Congratulatory messages continue to pour in for Red Arrows after the Zambian side eliminated South African football powerhouse Kaizer Chiefs from the CAF Confederation Cup. The result has drawn widespread praise in Zambia, where the Air Force-backed club is celebrated for punching well above its weight.

Red Arrows knocked the Soweto giants out of the competition following a tense penalty shootout in the second leg of the second preliminary round at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last weekend. Kaizer Chiefs won the match 1-0 on the day through a second-half header from Bradley Cross. That result levelled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate after Amakhosi had lost the first leg 1-0 in Ndola. The Zambian outfit then held their nerve from the spot, winning the shootout 3-2 to secure a place in the group stages for the first time in their history.

Among those to congratulate the club is Zambia’s Minister of Defence, Maambo Haamaundu. He praised the team’s resilience and determination after the impressive achievement. “Congratulations to Red Arrows for qualifying to the Group Stages of the CAF Confederations Cup,” Haamaundu said, according to the club’s media department. “Your resilience and determination in this journey is very much admirable. Going to South Africa and beating a renowned club like Kaizer Chiefs is not a small achievement. I wish to congratulate the Zambia Air Force Commander Lt Gen Oscar Nyoni, Officers and soldiers, the Technical Bench and players at Red Arrows for this milestone. We are proud as a Ministry that you have made Zambia proud.”

The victory has given the Red Arrows squad a major confidence boost ahead of the group phase. Coach Chisi Mbewe has already highlighted how beating a big PSL side like Chiefs will motivate his players as they prepare for tougher tests. The Zambian side will discover their group-stage opponents when CAF conducts the draw in Cairo, Egypt. They will look to build on the elimination of Amakhosi and make the most of home advantage in Ndola during the next phase of the competition.

For Kaizer Chiefs, the early exit adds pressure on coach Fernando da Cruz after another disappointing continental campaign. The Amakhosi dominated large parts of the second leg but could not convert their chances before faltering in the shootout. Red Arrows, meanwhile, continue to enjoy the moment as messages of support keep arriving from across Zambia.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2115412065376457118