Miguel Blunder Punishes Amakhosi in Painful 2–1 Defeat in Egypt
Kaizer Chiefs were punished by a late defensive meltdown as they fell 2–1 to Al Masry in their opening CAF Confederation Cup Group D match in Suez on Sunday. A costly mis-kick from Angolan defender Inacio Miguel handed the Egyptians a decisive 87th-minute winner, turning what looked like a hard-earned point into a painful defeat.
The result ends Chiefs’ three-match unbeaten run and marks their first loss in four outings across all competitions.
Tense first half, then drama after the break
Chances were scarce in a tentative opening half. Brandon Petersen kept Chiefs level early with a smart block to cut out a low cross, while Bradley Cross produced a brilliant point-blank intervention to deny another Al Masry effort. Chiefs struggled to create anything clear-cut of their own, often pinned into a defensive shape.
The match exploded into life shortly after halftime. Petersen produced an excellent save in the 48th minute, but 11 minutes later, the Chiefs captain was at fault. Racing off his line to smother a through ball, he mistimed his challenge and brought down Mahmoud Hamada inside the box. The referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Rwandan midfielder Bonheur Mugisha, fresh from playing Bafana Bafana last month, slotted home the penalty to make it 1–0 to the hosts.
Solomons stunner gives Chiefs hope
Given their lack of clear chances, Chiefs needed something special to equalise—and Dillan Solomons delivered a moment of brilliance.
Receiving the ball from Mfundo Vilakazi on the right flank, Solomons drove forward, weaved past two defenders and cut inside before drilling a sharp left-footed finish into the far corner in the 66th minute. It was his first goal in more than three years and a standout moment in just his fifth appearance of the season.
From there, Chiefs looked the more likely winners, controlling possession and pushing Al Masry deeper.
Miguel’s late blunder hands Al Masry the win
But just as Amakhosi appeared to be in control, disaster struck.
An 87th-minute Al Masry corner created chaos in the Chiefs box. The ball dropped kindly for Inacio Miguel, who had a simple clearance at his feet—but the defender swung and completely missed. The ball bounced loose, allowing Mohamed Hashem to react quickest and poke it past Petersen for a 2–1 lead.
It was a catastrophic moment that cost Chiefs a valuable point and overshadowed an otherwise disciplined defensive showing.
Egyptian Giants Head to SA as Chiefs Look to Bounce Back in Group D
The victory puts Al Masry top of Group D on goals scored ahead of Zamalek, who beat ZESCO United 1–0 in Cairo. Chiefs now face a huge task as they prepare to host Zamalek in Polokwane on Saturday, 29 November.
This campaign marks only Chiefs’ second-ever appearance in the group phase of a CAF competition, highlighting their struggle to build consistent continental momentum compared to rivals like Mamelodi Sundowns, who have now reached 11 consecutive Champions League group stages.