Stellenbosch FC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Stade Malien in their CAF Confederation Cup group stage opener at Stade de 26 Mars in Mali on Wednesday evening.
The hosts showed threat earlier on and almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Moctar Cisse rose high but his header missed the target.
Siphesihle Nduli then hit the crossbar with a looping header in the ninth minute.
In the 15th minute, the hosts broke the deadlock through Haman Mandjan’s pile drive from range which wrong-footed Sage Stephens, as the first period ended 1-0 in Malien’s favour.
Stellies stepped up their efforts in the second stanza with Omega Mdaka trying his luck with a free kick from just outside the box in the 55th minute but it landed safely in the hands of Ngolo Toure.
Stephens then made a crucial save from close range to keep the score at 1-0 as the home side continued to pile the pressure in search of a second goal.
A minute later, Sanele Barns whipped in a cross from the right, but Jayden Adams failed to keep it on target as his header failed to trouble Toure.
Malien kept Steve Barker’s charges at bay and added a second goal in injury-time after Daouda Coulibaly converted a last-minute penalty to pick up the crucial three points on their debut in continental football.
