Kaizer Chiefs fans hoping to see Etiosa Ighodaro in gold and black may need to hold their breath a little longer. Despite growing speculation that the Nigerian striker was already signed, sources close to the situation have moved to shut that talk down.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Ighodaro joining Chiefs, but the reports suggesting he has signed are inaccurate,” an insider confirmed. “He is still assessing his options both locally and abroad. Nothing has been concluded.”
This development is likely to frustrate head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has already voiced his need for more transfer backing from the club’s management.
Words from Nabi
Following his Nedbank Cup win, which brought an end to Kaizer Chiefs’ decade-long trophy drought, Nabi addressed his expectations moving forward.
“I wouldn’t be honest if I said that I’m gonna stay if the club doesn’t allow me to get all the tools to succeed,” Nabi said. “That’s the condition for me to stay because I don’t feel that I want to go through what I went through this season.”
At the heart of this is the pursuit of a reliable striker—something the club has struggled with in recent years. While Ighodaro would be a welcome addition, the lack of progress is cause for concern, especially with pre-season results falling short of expectations.
Chiefs have managed just one win in five pre-season matches, and scrutiny is mounting from all angles. Club legend Tsepo Masilela recently criticized new left-back Nkhanyiso Shinga for his defensive frailties, suggesting tactical missteps are compounding the problem.
“Even the second goal (against Twente), there’s a couple of times he got beaten in one-v-one situations,” Masilela said. “He’s comfortable on the ball, yes, but him inverting too much dragged Lilepo too deep.”
With no sign of Ighodaro committing, and internal criticisms beginning to surface, Amakhosi’s preparations appear far from settled.
Who should Kaizer Chiefs prioritise in the transfer window?
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