Bibiani GoldStars endured a difficult start to their maiden CAF Champions League campaign, falling 2-0 at home to Algerian giants JS Kabylie in the first leg of the preliminary round on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The visitors signaled their intent early, with Aymen Mahious finding the net in the eighth minute, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
Kabylie, however, did not have to wait long to break the deadlock as Medhi Merghem struck in the 21st minute to hand the Algerians a deserved first-half lead.
GoldStars improved after the restart and carved out several openings but their lack of composure in front of goal proved costly.
The Ghanaian champions were punished again in the 70th minute when Babacar Sarr pounced from a corner to double Kabylie’s advantage.
The defeat leaves GoldStars with a daunting task in the return leg in Algiers next week, where they will need a strong performance to overturn the deficit.
The winner of this tie will go on to face either East End Lions of Sierra Leone or Tunisia’s US Monastir in the second preliminary round.
