sportskeeda
Stellenbosch suffered a 2-0 loss to Stade Malien Bamako in their initial CAF Confederation Cup Group Ba match held at Stade 26 Mars in Bamako on Wednesday.
Haman Mandjan scored the first goal for the hosts in the 15th minute, as Malien had ended last season as runners-up in the Mali Premier League.
The second goal came from Daouda Coulibaly, who converted a penalty during the added time after Devin Titus was fouled.
Coach Steve Barker made multiple adjustments to the Stellies lineup that recently drew 1-1 against TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership earlier this month.
Titus spearheaded the attack alongside Sanele Barns and Jabaar, while Ashley Cupido and Andre De Jong remained on the bench.
In the first 10 minutes, both teams were fairly evenly matched, generating chances but unable to score.
Malien took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Mandjan, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by Stellies. Despite several opportunities afterward, Stellies couldn’t level the score, and the first half ended with Stade Malien ahead 1-0.
During the second half, Coach Barker introduced three substitutes before the match resumed, bringing on De Jong, Langelihle Phili, and Ashley Cupido for Ibrahem Jabaar, Kyle Jurgens, and Genito Palace. Stellies earned a free kick in the 55th minute after Titus was fouled in midfield.
Omega Mdaka took the free kick, but it was comfortably saved by Malien’s goalkeeper N’Golo Traore. Almost immediately after, Malien had a clear chance to score but failed to convert. In the 68th minute, Jayden Adams came close to scoring with a header that missed the target.
Stellies kept pressing, with Phili attempting a shot after a fine setup by De Jong, but it was saved by Traore.
However, a defensive error by Stellies in stoppage time led to a penalty awarded by referee Mehrez Melki from Tunisia, which Coulibaly successfully converted, sending goalkeeper Sage Stephens the wrong way to conclude the match at 2-0.
