Stellenbosch FC crash out of CAF Confederation Cup after heavy defeat to AS Otohô

Stellenbosch FC waved their CAF Confederation Cup hopes goodbye following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of AS Otohô on Sunday afternoon.

The outcome of this Group C clash, played on the artificial turf at the Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat in Congo-Brazzaville, was Stellenbosch’s third defeat in five games. With one round of matches left, Stellenbosch can no longer secure a slot in the top two berths of the log.

The victory secures Otohô a place in the knockout stages, although they may finish second by the time the group fixtures are completed next week. Stellenbosch, who could end Group C as wooden-spoonists, will host Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars FC in Cape Town next week.

Stellenbosch, playing in a 4-4-2 formation, seemed to hold their own against the hosts, who lined up in a 4-2-3-1. As was the pattern throughout the match, possession was 50-50, although Otohô seemed the more penetrative down the middle.

Stellenbosch appeared to make headway down the left channels, allowing them to lay on goalmouth crosses, but these were mostly wayward.

A brace of goals in the space of five minutes just ahead of the half-time break proved the undoing of the visitors. First, Exaucé Nzahou scored in the 37th minute, and then the Malian right-winger Klegnime Koné added a second soon afterwards. Both soft goals resulted from sloppy defence.

When play restarted in the second half, Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt virtually emptied his substitutes' bench. He sent out Kobamelo Kodisang (for Wayde Jooste), Chumani Butsaka (for Khomotjo Lekoloane), Mthetheleli Mthiyane (for Muzomuhle Khanyi) and Langelihle Phili (for Genino Palace).

The foursome managed to match Otohô for most of the second half, but they failed to make a difference. Koné added his second goal in the 79th minute to wrap up the 3-0 scoreline.

SCOREBOARD | AS Otoho v Stellenbosch

AS Otoho (2) 3

Nzaou 38; Kone 43, 79

Stellenbosch 0