The coach confirmed that the Nigerian is close to making his first appearance for the Soweto giants.
The 24-year-old forward joined Amakhosi from Mamelodi Sundowns earlier this season as part of a bid to strengthen the club’s attacking options.
However, his arrival has not gone as smoothly as planned. Ighodaro missed pre-season due to a transfer dispute between Sundowns and Chiefs, and soon after officially joining, he suffered an injury in training that has kept him on the sidelines.
Speaking to the media, Kaze confirmed the striker is now nearing a return, which is expected to happen after the upcoming FIFA break.
"Ighodaro has been injured, but the medical department promised us he will be fully recovered soon," said the Chiefs interim co-coach.
"He has been training with the group without contact. We’re hoping that after the FIFA break, he will be ready to go."
Before making the move to Naturena, Ighodaro enjoyed a loan spell at AmaZulu last season, where he featured in 27 matches across all competitions and scored six goals.
Chiefs supporters will be eager to see if he can provide the firepower needed to boost their push for silverware this season.
While they await his debut, Chiefs remain focused on their ongoing 2025/26 campaign. The Glamour Boys recently overcame Kabuscorp of Angola in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round, bouncing back from a 1-0 away defeat with a dramatic 1-0 victory at FNB Stadium before sealing qualification 5-4 on penalties.
Chiefs now turn their attention to the Betway Premiership, where they will host AmaZulu FC on Wednesday.
The clash provides an opportunity for Amakhosi to end a two-match winless streak in the league as they continue their hunt for consistency.
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Joseph Malongoane has urged Amakhosi supporters to remain patient with co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, arguing that the pair needs time to understand the unique demands of South African football.
Kaizer Chiefs winger Asanele Velebayi says his early months at the club have been a steady, game-by-game learning process as he finds his feet in the top flight.
Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has admitted his side continues to struggle in front of goal but insists the team is working hard to solve the problem ahead of Sunday’s clash with TS Galaxy in Mbombela.
Kaizer Chiefs played to a goalless draw against bottom-of-the-table Chippa United in their penultimate Betway Premiership fixture ahead of the AFCON 2025 break.
