Stellenbosch FC conceded after the first five minutes and then again five minutes into added time to lose 2-0 away to CR Belouizdad of Algeria in Group C late on Sunday night in their CAF Confederation Cup clash.
It was Stellies’ first loss of the competition.
A clever backheel from Lofti Boussouar set up Abdennour Belhocini to give the home side an early lead with a powerful shot past South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke. Although the livelier team throughout, Belouizdad did not clinch victory until Farid El Melali converted a penalty after Mohamed Ben Hammouda was fouled in the 95th minute.
Belouizdad top the table with six points, while Stellenbosch and Singida Big Stars of Tanzania have four each and AS Otoho of Congo-Brazzaville have three. It is shaping up to be the tightest of the four groups at the halfway stage of the tournament.
Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt has never really been too concerned with the outcomes of his clubs in pan-African competition, but the new Stellies coach will surely have raised an eyebrow of concern after the loss, as he continues to plot the club’s return to prominence after a torrid season so far.
It was also a handsome victory for former TS Galaxy mentor Sead Ramovic, who was appointed to lead the Algerians last year. The Chababists are currently second in Algeria’s Ligue Professionnelle 1, trailing MC Alger by 12 points.
Stellies, meanwhile, are 13th in the Betway Premiership and will not return to league action until February 18 when they face Magesi at the Danie Craven Stadium. Nevertheless, they will prepare this week for the return fixture on Sunday against CR Belouizdad in Stellenbosch, followed by a clash against AS Otoho a week later. They then finish the group stages of the Confederation Cup the following week against Singida Black Stars.
In between their final two matches in the Confederation Cup (4–10 February) on a date and venue to be confirmed, they will also face Kaizer Chiefs in a massive Nedbank Cup last-32 clash.
