PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 12: Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker during the CAF Confederation Cup match between Stellenbosch FC and Stade Malien at Loftus Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Stellenbosch ended their CAF Confederation Cup group campaign on a sour note after a 5-0 humiliation by RS Berkane on Sunday evening.
CAF Confederation Cup
Result: RS Berkane 0-5 Stellenbosch FC
Date: 19 January 2025
Venue: Stade municipal de Berkane
Stellies made wholesale changes from their win over Stade Malien, that booked their spot in the quality with a game to spare, as only Brian Onyango, Thabo Moloisane and Ashley Cupido survived.
Berkane had a perfect start after Oussama Lamlioui fired them ahead within the first seven minutes with a deflected shot in the box.
The Oranges Boys found themselves quickly 2-0 up in another seven minutes, as Youssef Mehri also profited from a huge deflection that wrong footed goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
The Moroccan giants slowed down their attack somewhat and only came close to getting the third goal just before the half-time interval, as Masuluke kept out a long range effort from Imad Riahi.
Steve Barker’s charges showed a little more determination from the break and around the hour-mark, Barker threw in the experience of Devin Titus, Fawaaz Basadien and Sihle Nduli.
However, as the Cape Winelands side looked to respond in attack, they left spaces at the back and on 66 minutes, Paul Valère Bassène made it 3-0 for Berkane with a strike into the bottom after he went through on goal.
Stellies continued to play a high line and things got worse with 11 minutes remaining after Youssef Zghoudi made it 4-0 for Berkane with a strike past Masuluke from a through ball.
Moloisane prevented the fifth goal from going in a moment later after he cleared a goal-bounf shot off the line.
However, the Stellenbosch captain’s effort were in vain as Bassène made it 5-0 for RSB and completed his brace from a break attack.
Berkane finished top of Group B and unbeaten, seven points ahead of Stellies, who ended up in second spot, with both sides through to the quarter-finals.
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