Stellenbosch FC’s maiden adventure in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages ended in disappointment as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Mali’s Stade Malien at the Stade de 26 Mars on Wednesday night.
The Western Cape club, revitalised by their recent success in the preliminary rounds, faced a stern challenge in the tough conditions of Bamako in Mali, where they conceded goals at the 15th and 94th minutes of the match.
Head coach Steve Barker entered the contest without pivotal defenders Fawaaz Basadien and Ismail Toure, a setback that forced him to lean on the youthful talents of Kyle Jurgens and Unathi Mdaka in the fullback positions.
This inexperience at the continental level, which had raised eyebrows during preparations, would soon manifest on the pitch.
Stellenbosch started brightly, but were dealt an early blow when the hosts capitalised on a defensive lapse, with Haman Mandjan scoring a deflected goal just 15 minutes into the match.
Confusion reigned in the Stellies midfield, allowing Mandjan to fire a shot that deflected past goalkeeper Sage Stephens, shocking the visitors, who had been keen to seize an early advantage themselves.
Barker’s men appeared to rebound from the early setback, dominating possession for the remainder of the first half.
Their best opportunity to equalise came just four minutes prior to Mandjan’s goal when Sihle Nduli’s powerful header rattled the crossbar from a well-placed Jayden Adams corner.
Despite controlling the play, Stellenbosch struggled to create significant scoring chances, leaving Barker frustrated as his side headed into the break trailing 1-0.
𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 – We've got work to do in the second half 👊
Stade Malien 1️⃣-0️⃣ Stellenbosch FC pic.twitter.com/ESMMaEjrqh
Seeking to deepen their attacking threat, he introduced three substitutes at halftime: Andre de Jong, Ashley Cupido and Langelihle Phili.
This tactical shift paid dividends as Stellies applied renewed pressure during the second half, mounting numerous attacks for an equaliser. However, a lack of clear-cut chances continued to plague their efforts.
Their closest moment came in the 64th minute when Mdaka’s shot tested the Stade Malien goalkeeper, but Nduli’s follow-up attempt failed to find the net.
Just when it looked like Stellenbosch might stage a late comeback, disaster struck in the dying moments of the match.
80' – Pushing hard to get ourselves back on level terms.
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) November 27, 2024
Stade Malien 1️⃣-0️⃣ Stellenbosch FC pic.twitter.com/8Vj7Ik95Kw
In the final minute of added time, a foul in the box led to a penalty for the home side, with Devin Titus responsible for the indiscretion.
The resulting goal from the spot-kick dashed any lingering hopes of an equaliser, sealing a frustrating night for the South African outfit.
Stade Malien exhibited strong game management as they thwarted Stellenbosch’s attempts, ultimately securing a crucial three points on their home turf.
Our #TotalEnergiesCAFCC 🌍 group stage campaign begins with defeat.
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) November 27, 2024
Stade Malien 2️⃣-0️⃣ Stellenbosch FC pic.twitter.com/LyQaqKFusX
As they look ahead, Stellenbosch will aim to shake off this defeat before a challenging away Premiership fixture against Orlando Pirates on Sunday, where they will seek to regroup and regain their footing in the league.