Early goals from Thabo Moloisane and Lehlohonolo Mojela gave Stellenbosch of South Africa a 2-0 win over V Club of Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday in a Caf Confederation Cup qualifier.
70' – We're into the final 20 minutes of the encounter 👊
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) September 13, 2024
Stellenbosch 2️⃣–0️⃣ AS Vita Club pic.twitter.com/zxcRFVuvRI
During the post-match media conference, Morocco-born V Club coach and former Fulham defender Abdeslam Ouaddou announced his resignation, citing unhappiness with preparations for the match.
Moloisane netted after eight minutes and Mojela four minutes later in a dream start for a Western Cape club from a rugby union hotbed competing in Africa for the first time.
JUST IN❗
— KickOff Online (@KickOffMagazine) September 13, 2024
AS Vita coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has resigned from his position after the 2-0 loss to Stellenbosch FC on Friday night.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/tIYPu4mWH5 pic.twitter.com/ZZ0JXdopOi
It was a satisfactory outcome to the second round first leg for 'Stellies' as they faced experienced Caf campaigners from Kinshasa, where the return match will be played next weekend.
V Club won the African Cup of Champions Clubs – the forerunner to the Caf Champions League – 51 years ago and were runners-up to Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the 2018 Confederation Cup.
It appears that the visiting AS Vita fans outnumber the home supporters for Stellenbosch at the DHL Stadium so far.@StellenboschFC @ASVitaOfficial @GOALcomSA #CAFCC #TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/fylJSWXbXY
— Sandile Ndumo® (@sandilendumo1) September 13, 2024
While Europe ditched the away-goal rule in club competitions from 2021, Africa still apply it so one goal for Stellenbosch in Kinshasa would leave V Club needing four to reach the group stage.
Stellenbosch outclassed Ntsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini 8-0 in the first qualifying round during August while V Club were among 12 clubs given byes.
Nsoatreman of Ghana, another club playing in Africa for the first time, appear doomed after suffering a 2-0 home loss to Algerian visitors CS Constantine in Accra.
Zakaria Benchaa scored twice within 23 minutes of the start for Constantine, who hope to reach the group stage for the first time after two failed attempts.
Benchaa cut in from the right wing to score from close range after 11 minutes, then hammered the ball past goalkeeper Daniel Afadzwu from outside the area.
A couple of west African showdowns – Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso against Enyimba of Nigeria and Racing Abidjan of Ivory Coast against Jaraaf of Senegal – ended in 0-0 draws.