Kaizer Chiefs’ limited chances of participating in continental competition in Africa the next season were shattered on Sunday when they drew 1-1 in the South African Premiership against lowly AmaZulu.
To stand a chance of finishing in fourth place, the Johannesburg team needed to win in Durban and secure maximum points from their final two league games against Polokwane City and Cape Town Spurs.
The winners, Mamelodi Sundowns, and the runners-up, Orlando Pirates or Stellenbosch, will advance to the next CAF Champions League.
Pirates and Sekhukhune United, the current third- and fourth-place teams, advance to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
With Stellenbosch and Pirates guaranteed spots in one of the African competitions, the remaining teams are Sekhukhune, TS Galaxy, SuperSport United, and Cape Town City.
Sekhukhune, who are aiming for a second consecutive Confederation Cup appearance, are two points clear of Galaxy and SuperSport and three above Cape Town.
Ashley du Preez scored 86 seconds into the first half for the eighth-place Chiefs against AmaZulu after intercepting a square pass.
On 39 minutes, a header by Sepana Letsoalo pulled AmaZulu level, but big-screen replays revealed the goalkeeper was offside, so it should have been disallowed.
In extra time, Du Preez had a chance to win the game, but AmaZulu goalie Veli Mothwa made a fantastic save to deny him.
With five draws and two losses over the weekend, runaway leaders Sundowns were the only team in the top half to win.
Pirates’ shocking 1-0 home loss to Richards Bay, who are currently in second place, came as a surprise because the Buccaneers had won seven straight games across all competitions going into the Soweto fixture.
After just one season in the first division, bottom club Cape Town Spurs were forced to relegation when Sanele Barns scored for Bay on the 36th minute of play.
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