Stellenbosch suffer first CAFCC defeat of the season
Stellenbosch FC suffered a first defeat in the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup, going down 2-0 to Algerian side CR Belouizdad at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
Heading into Sunday’s encounter, Stellenbosch were looking to consolidate the Club’s position atop the Group C standings, but were dealt an early blow in the tie when hosts CR Belouizdad took the lead in the first five minutes.
Lofti Boussouar showed a remarkable turn of pace down the left wing to set up midfielder Abdennour Belhocini, who made no mistake in firing his effort past Oscarine Masuluke to open the scoring.
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Stellenbosch responded well and nearly fashioned an equaliser through Henri Stanic, who was unable to bundle the ball home after it fell to him from a well-directed set-piece.
The Maroons’ biggest chance of the half came just before the break when Devin Titus pressed the opposition ‘keeper into passing the ball straight to Sanele Barns, who could only watch as his lobbed effort was agonisingly cleared on the goalline.
Stellies were then almost punished on the break at the other end immediately after, but Masuluke was on hand to pull off a strong save, which kept the scores within touching distance heading into half-time.
The team from the Winelands looked an improved side after the break and enjoyed more control over the match, but were ultimately unable to find the all-important equaliser.
Instead, it was at the other end where the net bulged once again when, in the fifth minute of additional time, the hosts were awarded a penalty after Henri Stanic was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.
Farid El Melali stepped up and duly converted the resultant spot-kick to consign Stellenbosch to a first defeat in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.