CR Belouizdad Ends Stellenbosch’s Unbeaten Run
Sead Ramovic emerged victorious on Sunday, leading CR Belouizdad to a decisive 2-0 win over Stellenbosch FC. The result marks a shift in Group C of the CAF Confederation Cup, as the Algerian giants leapfrogged their South African counterparts to claim the top spot. For Stellenbosch, the defeat served as a sobering “welcome” for new coach Gavin Hunt, who recently took the reins following a long-standing coaching era at the club.
The North African side wasted no time asserting their dominance, breaking the deadlock just five minutes into the match. Abdennour Belhocini found the back of the net after a clinical setup by Lofti Boussouar, catching the “Stellies” defense off guard. This early strike set the tone for the encounter, forcing the Western Cape side to chase the game in a hostile away environment.
Stellenbosch struggled to find their rhythm but weren’t without opportunities. Their best chance to equalize arrived in the 30th minute when Langelihle Phili found himself in a prime position, but he failed to capitalize on the opening. Despite the pressure, goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke kept the visitors in the hunt with a spectacular save in first-half stoppage time, preventing the deficit from doubling before the break.
The Algerian side finally put the game out of reach deep into the second half. Farid El Melali converted a penalty in the fifth minute of added time, sealing the three points and extinguishing any hopes of a late Stellenbosch comeback. The victory provides a massive boost for Ramovic’s squad, who are looking to bounce back from recent domestic setbacks and maintain their momentum in both continental and league play.
The Group C standings have been blown wide open following this result. CR Belouizdad now sits comfortably at the summit with six points, while Stellenbosch remains in second place with four points. However, the South Africans are feeling the heat from Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars, who also sit on four points, leaving very little margin for error in the upcoming fixtures.
While CR Belouizdad keeps their sights on chasing Rhulani Mokwena’s MC Alger in their domestic title race, Stellenbosch must quickly regroup. Gavin Hunt faces the immediate challenge of tightening a defense that was uncharacteristically porous. With the knockout stages approaching, the battle for supremacy in Group C is far from over, but the advantage has firmly shifted toward Algiers.
