Chiefs must do without Nabi for Babina Noko clash

Sekhukhune United will look to capitalise on the absence of Nasreddine Nabi from the dugout when they lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 3.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

Current form:

Nasreddine starts a two-match touchline ban this weekend after he was sent off at the end of the 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows on January 12 for remonstrating with the match official.

The Tunisian will miss the Betway Premiership visit of Babina Noko and the Nedbank Cup clash with Free Agents on January 26 before returning for the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates on February 1.

Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef will stand in for Nabi as the Glamour Boys attempt to bounce back from the disappointing result against Abafana Bes'thende.

Amakhosi have now lost two of their three league games in 2025 and find themselves five points adrift of the top three in sixth place, level with Arrows on 18 points but behind them on goal difference.

Lehlohonolo Seema's side are starting to find some consistency after a sticky patch in October and November which saw them lose three of their four top-flight encounters.

The Limpopo outfit climbed above local rivals Polokwane City into third position following a 3-0 win over SuperSport United on January 12 and they are now unbeaten in their last five outings.

Sekhukhune cut the gap to the second-placed Buccaneers to four points, although they have played one game more than the top two, who will both be action in the CAF Champions League this weekend.

What was said:

Sekhukhune United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema

"I'm just happy that we managed to score three goals without a reply (against SuperSport) and I'm happy once more for [Andy] Boyeli.

"You know it has been a long journey for him, in the first season of the league and struggling, scoring odd goals here and there but now after scoring a hat-trick, scored in the last game again.

"The confidence obviously is going to go up which is good that even now we don't have to rely on Ohizu [Chibuike], putting too much pressure on him and then we can rotate them and the goals will start flowing."

Players to watch:

Kaizer Chiefs - Mduduzi Shabalala still seems to be Amakhosi's best avenue for goals and went close to opening the scoring against Arrows when he curled a shot just wide of the right post from inside the box on 38 minutes. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is the club's top scorer with four goals and he's just two behind Iqraam Rayners in the race for the Golden Boot.

Sekhukhune United - Andy Boyeli will be brimming with confidence after bagging his first hat-trick in South African football against Matsatsantsa. The DR Congo striker, who only joined Babina Noko from Power Dynamos in July, has now scored four goals in his last two games after enduring an eight-match barren spell and he's now just one behind Rayners in the scoring charts.

Head-to-Head: (Last Five Betway Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 5

Kaizer Chiefs wins - 2

Sekhukhune wins - 2

Draws - 1