Stellenbosch back in CAF action aiming to turn season around

Stellenbosch FC will return to the CAF Confederations Cup this weekend, travelling to Equatorial Guinea to face 15 de Agosto FC at the Ebebiyin Stadium on Saturday.

The Cape Winelands side make their entrance in the second preliminary round after reaching the last four of last season's competition, where a narrow 1-0 aggregate loss to Simba FC denied them the chance to extend their impressive continental run. 

With this marking their second consecutive season in Africa’s secondary premier competition, the Maroons progress on the continental stage has been undeniable, demonstrating their growth and ambition despite being a relatively young club in top-flight football.

However, the team heads into this weekend’s clash following a tough start to their league campaign. After nine matches, they have claimed only a single victory and sit in the bottom half of the table. 

A five-match winless run has left them in 14th place. While the squad still retains considerable talent, some recent transfer decisions may now be showing their consequences. 

Stellies’ transfer business has become a tale told too many times, a quiet shadow that now lingers over their season. Once adept at turning departures into opportunities, the squad is this year feeling the weight of change, still finding its rhythm amid the demands of a busy campaign

On the flip side, the international break could have come at exactly the right time. While their league form has struggled, the Maroons have performed admirably in cup competitions, highlighted by their run to the MTN8 final. 

Despite a 3-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium last month, Stellies had held one of the strongest teams in the league to a 0-0 draw in normal time, only succumbing to the superior depth and quality of Pirates in extra time.

Their past continental successes will, however, give coach Steve Barker added confidence ahead of this weekend. Their famous 1-0 aggregate win over Egyptian giants Zamalek in the quarterfinals showed that they can compete with Africa’s top sides, and it’s experience Barker and his players will draw on against 15 de Agosto.

The team enters the encounter against the Central African side on the back of another positive: a hard-fought 5-4 penalty shootout victory over rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout round of 16. 

Chiefs have been a challenging opponent for Stellies, having won 2-0 in the league earlier this season after three defeats last year, making the cup win even more significant. That victory provided a timely morale boost and a reminder of the team’s ability to perform in high-pressure situations.

The Carling Knockout remains the only top-flight trophy in Stellenbosch’s cabinet, and now, as they return to continental competition with a challenging away fixture, the team will look to use that momentum to reignite their league campaign. They will be aiming to translate cup success into consistent performances, as they have the potential to climb the table and re-establish themselves among the Premier Soccer League’s top sides.

Stellies’ lack of goals has been a challenge this season, but with Ashley Cupido called up to replace Burnley striker Lyle Foster in the Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, both the player and the club could gain a confidence boost moving forward.