Gavin Hunt

Gavin Hunt, head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 17 February 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs: Tunisia, Tanzania or Tshwane for CAF Champions League quarters

Kaizer Chiefs face a flight to Tunisia or Tanzania or a drive to Pretoria in the quarter-finals of this season’s CAF Champions League.

Gavin Hunt

Gavin Hunt, head coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg on the 17 February 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Following their heroic draw in Guinea on Saturday night, Kaizer Chiefs have qualified for the quarter-finals of this season’s CAF Champions League.

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When the excitement of their 2-2 away draw subsides, attention will turn to the playoffs and who Amakhosi will take on as they bid for a semi-final berth.

As runners-up in Group C, Kaizer Chiefs will face one of the winners of the four groups.

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However!

Kaizer Chiefs cannot face the winners of their own group, Wydad Athletic Club.

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That leaves just THREE possible quarter-final foes for Gavin Hunt’s men: Simba SC of Tanzania, Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis … or a mouth-watering all-South African showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns!

The draw to determine who will face who in the last 8 will be conducted on Friday, April 30, 2021.

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As the “unseeded” team, Kaizer Chiefs will host the first leg at the FNB Stadium on the weekend of 14-15 May with the return leg in one of Tunisia, Tanzania or up the road in Pretoria a week later on 21-22 May.

The distance from Johannesburg to Tunis is some 10 657km (roughly), while it’s just under 3 500km to Tanzania.

But it’s under 70km from FNB Stadium to Loftus Versfeld!

Simba SC were the winners of Group A and boasted a record of four wins, one draw and one defeat in their six matches. They were well beaten by Al Ahly in their final group match.

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Meanwhile, Esperance de Tunis weren’t that impressive in topping Group D with only three wins, two draws and a defeat in their matches.

Mamelodi Sundowns won four, drew one and lost their final match having already qualified for the next stage against CR Belouizdad.

Despite the flight to North Africa being a lot further, Kaizer Chiefs may well be holding thumbs for Esperance de Tunis’ name to come out of the hat.

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