Stellenbosch coach Barker targets consistency against Belouizdad, Otoho and Singida

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has welcomed a demanding TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup group, stressing that progress will hinge on handling tough away trips and maintaining standards against three contrasting opponents. 

The South Africans, semi-finalists last season, are in Group C with Algeria’s CR Belouizdad, Congo’s AS Otohô and Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars.

Barker’s early message is measured optimism: respect the field, manage the journeys to North, Central and East Africa, and back themselves at home.

Setting the tone, Barker said his side are content with how the balls fell but under no illusions about the challenge.

“We are happy with the draw. Obviously, once you get to the group stages, there’s no easy teams. All the teams have done well to deserve to be making the group stages,” he noted.

He is particularly alert to the variety of styles Stellenbosch will face.

“An interesting draw playing against different types of opposition. It’ll be a test for us, especially in terms of the away fixtures to Congo as well as to Tanzania and Algeria,” Barker explained.

Seeded second, the South Africans were always likely to land a heavyweight from Pot 1—and they did. “It was never going to be easy being seeded two. You’re always going to get a team from Pot One, which in this case is CR Belouizdad,” he said.

Even so, Barker views the campaign as a valuable barometer of the club’s continental growth. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s always good to be testing ourselves on the continent and playing against different types of oppositions from different countries,” he added.

The group phase opens the weekend of 21–23 November, pauses for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 after matchday two, and resumes 23–25 January through to mid-February.

Group winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals, with clubs guaranteed significant prize money once they reach the knockout rounds.

For Stellenbosch, the equation is clear: protect home turf in the Cape, travel smart to Algiers, Otoho and Singida, and stay consistent. Barker’s stance—respect everyone, fear no one—sets the tone for another deep run.

Group C fixtures (Stellenbosch FC)

• MD1 (23 Nov 2025): Stellenbosch FC vs AS Otohô (home). Elsewhere: CR Belouizdad vs Singida Black Stars.

• MD2 (30 Nov 2025): Singida Black Stars vs Stellenbosch FC (away). Elsewhere: AS Otohô vs CR Belouizdad.

• MD3 (25 Jan 2026): CR Belouizdad vs Stellenbosch FC (away). Elsewhere: Singida Black Stars vs AS Otohô.

• MD4 (1 Feb 2026): Stellenbosch FC vs CR Belouizdad (home). Elsewhere: AS Otohô vs Singida Black Stars.

• MD5 (8 Feb 2026): AS Otohô vs Stellenbosch FC (away). Elsewhere: Singida Black Stars vs CR Belouizdad.

• MD6 (15 Feb 2026): Stellenbosch FC vs Singida Black Stars (home). Elsewhere: CR Belouizdad vs AS Otohô.