Kaizer Chiefs have officially parted ways with co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
The coaching duo managed to spark a turnaround in form during their time in charge, briefly raising hopes of a possible title challenge before the team’s campaign faded late in the season.
Amakhosi ended the league campaign in third place with 54 points, but inconsistent performances and disappointing exits in cup competitions prompted the club to begin a fresh rebuild ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Kaizer Chiefs announced on Tuesday that Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef would leave the club with immediate effect after their contracts came to an end.
The pair took over coaching responsibilities after the departure of former head coach Nasreddine Nabi earlier in the season, stepping into a difficult situation as the club searched for direction and stability.
In an official statement, the club confirmed:
“With the season now complete, Kaizer Chiefs can confirm the departure of coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze following the expiration of their two-year contracts. Ben Youssef joined the club at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, while Kaze arrived in October 2024. Both coaches initially worked as assistants under former head coach Nasreddine Nabi, who left the club in October 2025.”
There were encouraging signs during the early stages of their tenure. Chiefs collected 32 points from their first 15 league matches, equalling the club’s total points tally from the previous campaign, where they failed to secure a top-eight finish.
At one point, supporters began believing the club could challenge for the league title, with Chiefs sitting only five points behind rivals Orlando Pirates.
However, the season eventually took a downward turn. A poor spell that saw the team lose five of their last six league matches, including three successive defeats in the Betway Premiership, ended any realistic hopes of competing for the title.
Their struggles continued in cup competitions, where early eliminations from both the Nedbank Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup left the club without silverware once again.
Despite the setbacks, Chiefs still managed to finish third on the table with 54 points — their best league finish since the 2019/20 campaign — while also securing qualification for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
The club will now focus on appointing a new head coach as preparations begin for the 2026/27 season, with management aiming to build on the progress shown during parts of the campaign.
Chiefs also indicated that additional announcements regarding the club’s plans for the new season will be made in the coming weeks.
