Bibiani GoldStars’ maiden voyage in the CAF Champions League came to a painful halt on Sunday, as they were thrashed 5-0 by Algerian powerhouse JS Kabylie in Tizi Ouzou, bowing out 7-0 on aggregate at the preliminary stage.
Carrying a two-goal deficit from the first leg in Accra, the Ghanaian champions were already in a precarious position heading into the return fixture. Any faint hopes of a comeback, however, were shattered almost immediately when misfortune struck. Goalkeeper Emmanuel Kobi, attempting to deal with a dangerous cross, inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net after just seven minutes.
The early setback only spurred the Algerians on. Veteran playmaker Ryad Boudebouz doubled Kabylie’s lead before the half-hour mark, effectively killing off the tie. GoldStars looked overwhelmed and never truly settled into the contest, struggling to keep pace with their hosts’ relentless tempo.
HALFTIME:
JSK 2-0 Bibiani GoldStars pic.twitter.com/M1IbnK3cI7
— Bibiani GoldStars SC (@GoldStarsSc) September 28, 2025
After the restart, Mehdi Merghem put the game further beyond reach with a composed finish midway through the second half. Matters went from bad to worse for the visitors when defender Emmanuel Ankrah received his marching orders on the hour following a reckless challenge.
Kabylie ruthlessly capitalized on the numerical superiority, with Lahlou Akhrib slotting home just four minutes later. Substitute Oualid Maliki then rounded off the rout in stoppage time to cap a dominant display.
FULL-TIME
JSK 5-0 Bibiani GoldStars pic.twitter.com/CUIYerICZb
— Bibiani GoldStars SC (@GoldStarsSc) September 28, 2025
For GoldStars, the dream of making a deep run in Africa’s elite club competition has ended at the very first hurdle.
The heavy defeat serves as a harsh reality check for the Ghanaian champions, who must now quickly shift their attention back to domestic duties as they prepare to defend their Premier League crown.
