CAFCC: CR Belouizdad pounce early to defeat Singida Black Stars

A strong start carried Algerian giants CR Belouizdad to a 2-0 home victory on Saturday over Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars to begin fixtures from Group C in the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) group stage.

In a match that saw few opportunities for both sides at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, CRB’s efficient finishing in the opening quarter hour was enough for a routine victory.

Abdennour Belhocini’s attempt at a backheel finish in the 5th minute took a kind deflection past goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga after Belhocini got on the end of a Houcine Benayada cross. Abdelraouf Benguit doubled the hosts’ advantage less than ten minutes later.

After the dream start for the hosts, the match calmed down with CRB content to maintain possession and manage their two-goal advantage. While the visitors from Tanzania got more comfortable, they failed to provide a firm challenge to the CRB defense led by Benayada and Chouaib Keddad.

CRB will travel to Brazzaville to face Congolese club AS Otôho next Saturday in Group C. Singida Black Stars, eager to challenge for qualification to the knockout stages, will face another difficult test when they host last season’s Confederation Cup semifinalists Stellenbosch FC of South Africa at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar next Sunday.