Stellenbosch Suffer Setback Against Belouizdad In CAF

Stellenbosch suffered a potentially damaging setback in their bid to reach the knockout stages after losing 2-0 to CR Belouizdad in a CAF Confederation Cup Group C match at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Sunday night.

Despite the defeat, Stellenbosch remain second in the group with four points, level with Singida Black Stars of Tanzania, who defeated Otoho d’Oyo of Congo on Sunday.

Stellies have now won one match, lost one and drawn one in Group C, and will need to secure a victory when they host CR Belouizdad in the return fixture next Sunday in South Africa.

Abdennour Belhocini gave the Algerian side an early advantage, scoring in the fifth minute to underline their intent against Gavin Hunt’s team.

Belouizdad could have doubled their lead just before half-time, but Oscarine Masuluke produced a superb save, making himself big to deny the hosts.

Stellenbosch were fortunate not to trail by two goals earlier, having been exposed on the counter-attack on several occasions.

Belouizdad continued to press in the latter stages, hitting the post and missing a close-range chance when Stellenbosch were caught ball-watching.

The hosts were eventually awarded a penalty in stoppage time after Henry Stanic caught Mohamed Ben Hammouda inside the box. Farid El Melali converted the spot-kick with a low, powerful strike beyond Masuluke to seal the win.

The result marked Hunt’s first defeat in his second match in charge of Stellenbosch.

If Stellies are to harbour hopes of repeating last season’s impressive run to the semi-finals, they will need a much-improved performance in the return leg. They were without Tshegofatso Mabasa, who is on loan from Orlando Pirates, for unspecified reasons, and Hunt will hope to have him available when the teams meet again in South Africa next weekend.

Stellenbosch have also been weakened by departures in the January transfer window, losing coach Steve Barker and Andre de Jong, the latter having joined Orlando Pirates.

Interestingly, Stellies came up against a familiar face on the bench, Sead Ramovic, who previously coached TS Galaxy in the PSL.

Ramovic’s last match in South African football came against Stellenbosch in November 2024. He later joined Young Africans in Tanzania that same month, before leaving in February last year to take up his current role in Algeria.