Stellenbosch FC, eager to bounce back from their CAF Confederation Cup group stage defeat, will face Moroccan giants RSB Berkane on Sunday.
Fresh off their morale-boosting win against Orlando Pirates in domestic action, the South African side will be bolstered by the return of star left-back Fawaaz Basadien.
Basadien missed the trip to Mali last week to celebrate becoming a first-time father, a momentous occasion praised by head coach Steve Barker. “Congratulations to Fawaaz on this significant milestone in his life.
“It’s wonderful to have him back for such an important game,” Barker said.
The visitors, RSB Berkane, arrive as the log leaders in Morocco’s top division and boast a strong pedigree in African football, making them formidable opponents. However, they will be without their influential Brazilian midfielder Matheus Santos, sidelined with a grade-one muscle injury.
In a statement, Berkane confirmed, “Matheus requires a treatment period of three to four weeks before returning to action.”
Stellenbosch, on the other hand, is keen to put their disappointing 2-0 loss to Stade Malien behind them. Reflecting on that result, Barker remained optimistic:
“Despite the scoreline, we played well against a team that has won this competition twice in recent years. It was a great learning experience, especially for our young squad.”
The Cape Winelands side’s journey in this competition has been marred by venue challenges, with the Danie Craven Stadium deemed unsuitable for international matches. Sunday’s clash will mark their first “home” game of the group stage, though in unfamiliar territory.
With a nomadic history of stadium use and a point to prove, Stellenbosch will look to make a statement against one of Africa’s top-ranked sides. Fans can expect an intense showdown as Barker’s youthful squad aims to keep their continental dreams alive.