Why Kaizer Chiefs' CAF Confederation Cup qualification may not yet be cast in stone

While various reports suggest that Kaizer Chiefs have qualified for next season’s CAF Confederations Cup without even kicking a ball in the Nedbank Cup final, their place in Africa’s second-tier competition is actually not yet confirmed.

Chiefs produced a scintillating comeback to beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the semi-finals of South Africa’s premier cup competition. They now face bitter rivals Orlando Pirates in the show match at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 10.

The win was under-fire coach Nasreddine Nabi’s biggest moment of a rollercoaster tenure thus far after starting the job at the beginning of the season. They now have a real shot at winning their first major trophy in almost a decade.

But there seems to be some confusion surrounding their qualification and participation in the CAF Confederation Cup next season, with many pundits suggesting they had qualified by just making the final.

Pirates and Stellenbosch FC actually still hold the key to Chiefs’ qualification. But it’s also in the hands of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), who actually has the final say about who qualifies and who doesn’t if more than two teams meet the Confederation Cup qualification requirements.

The reports about Chiefs already qualifying probably stem from the fact that Pirates are likely to finish second in the standings and qualify for the top-tier competition, the CAF Champions League. Pirates can also qualify for the competition by winning it after they recently progressed to the semi-finals.

However,Pirates can actually still lose out on Champions League football if they get knocked out of the competition and have a meltdown in the league and finish outside of the top-two. They will then have to beat Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final to qualify for the Confederation Cup.

Stellenbosch FC, who have qualified for the current Confederation Cup semi-finals, can secure their participation in next year’s event if they go on to win the tournament.

Unlike in Europe, where the winner of the second-tier Europa League competition qualifies for the Champions League, the winner of the Confederation Cup only earn the right to defend their title again. They don’t earn qualification to the CAF Champions League.

CAF only allows entrants from South Africa for both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup - most other countries get only one entrant. A third team can’t compete in those competitions.

So, in essence, if Pirates don’t finish second in the league - which is a long shot but a possibility nonetheless - and win the Nedbank Cup final and Stellenbosch FC win the Confederation Cup, then Chiefs can’t qualify by just making the final.

But here is where things get rather complicated. If three teams actually qualify outright, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) must select the two teams. Normally it would be the team that finishes third and the winner of the major cup competition.

But Stellenbosch, if they win the Confederation Cup, can still put a spanner in the works and would be rather upset if they aren't allowed to defend their title.

So, with all the permutations still on the table, Chiefs may actually still have to win the competition to cement their place in the Confederation Cup.

@JohnGoliath82