Stellenbosch FC opened their 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup group stage account with a 1-0 win over AS Otoho at the Peter Mokaba stadium on Sunday courtesy of a late Ashely Cupido strike.
The first half of the game saw minimal chances created by both sides, though the visitors enjoyed better share of possession. Stellies could have gotten on the scoreboard as early as the second minute but Devin Titus’ attempt was an easy save for the Otoho goalkeeper.
The Congolese side got in Stellies’ box winning winning set-pieces in dangerous areas. They won a corner with four minutes to the break and Klegnime Kone whipped it into the box to find Banidiougou Diallo but Sage Stevens made a comfortable save.
At the stroke of half time they had another chance from a dead-ball situation yet again, Diallo stepped up but was denied by the crossbar, leaving the game deadlocked at 0-0 at half-time.
The visitors picked up where they left off at the start of the second stanza winning a corner. Kone again swung the ball but Ibrahima Traore headed slightly off target.
The home side made three changes mid through the half which brought immediate changes. In the 69th minute Turan Manafov took a long range shot but Otoho keeper did well to tip it out for a corner and nothing came off the set-piece.
There was another golden opportunity two minutes later Manafov set-up Thabo Moloisane playing in his 100th match in maroon but the South African international missed the target.
With the game looking like it was ending goalless Cupido slotted home the all important goal in injury-time to steal the victory.
The result sees Stellies in second position in Group C with three points behind leaders CR Belouizdad who defeated bottom placed Singida Black Stars in an earlier kick-off in the pool.