Stellenbosch FC face a stern test of their credentials against AS Vita Club in their CAF Confederation Cup second round qualifier.
The Cape Winelands club made light work of Nsingizini Hotspurs with an 8-0 aggregate victory in the previous qualifying round to set up a clash with the 2018 finalists.
AS Vita have a rich history in African competitions and have made 14 appearances in the CAF Champions League, winning the competition in 1973.
This is their fourth appearance in the Confederation Cup, with the club having struggled to live up to expectations in recent seasons, having last won a domestic Linafoot title in 2021, although they are 2024 Coupe du Congo champions.
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s team are yet to play in this season’s competition though having secured a direct route to the second round after ending their 2024 Congo Premier League season as runners-up.
Stellies boss Steve Barker, meanwhile, admits the Betway Premiership is his side’s priority, but the head coach will no doubt hope the club can continue their impressive form that has seen them already secure a place in the final of this season’s MTN8 final.
Ahead of the game, he said: “It’s always exciting to play in the league… it’s the ultimate prize. Cups are nice to be doing well but ultimately as a player, as a coach, and as a club, league titles are the most important, so we want to give it our best shot.
“We want to compete on all levels and make sure we take each game at a time, each competition at a time…but a huge focus has to be on the league because the league is a foundation for you to play in Africa and it’s a foundation for you to grow as a football club, so the league is very important for us.”
The first leg takes place at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, and the second leg is scheduled for Sunday 22 September.
Mood inside MD-1 🏟 pic.twitter.com/hFuEgnRzdh
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) September 12, 2024
