Late penalty denies Stellenbosch maximum points in Zanzibar

Stellenbosch FC maintained their grip on the top spot in their CAF Confederation Cup group, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars following a stoppage-time penalty on Sunday evening.

Playing at the Amaan Stadium, Steve Barker’s side looked set to secure their third straight win in the group stages before the dramatic late intervention by the home team.

Milestone Man Strikes First

Barker named a strong attacking lineup featuring Langelihle Phili, Ashley Cupido, and Sanele Barns. Phili, making his 50th appearance for the club, was central to the team’s eventual breakthrough. New signing Oscarine Masuluke, who replaced the usual number one, kept the scores level in the first half with a crucial save in the 24th minute as the hosts grew into the game.

The opening half was largely a cagey affair, with Stellenbosch struggling to dominate possession and failing to create significant opportunities inside the Singida box.

The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes after the restart. Langelihle Phili capped his milestone match in style, registering his sixth goal of the season across all competitions to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Singida Snatch Late Point

Looking to protect their lead, Barker introduced fresh legs after the hour mark, bringing on Andre de Jong and Chumani Butsaka for Cupido and Thato Kiba.

However, Singida intensified their pressure in the final quarter of the match, pushing hard for an equaliser. Their persistence paid off at the very end. In the 90th minute, a penalty was awarded to the Black Stars, which Marouf Tchakei calmly converted, denying Stellenbosch the full three points and earning the Tanzanian side a share of the spoils.

Despite the late collapse, the point is enough for Stellenbosch FC to remain at the summit of their group standings. Their focus now shifts back to domestic duties, with a crucial Betway Premiership clash coming up on Wednesday, which will mark their final fixture before the year-end break.