Bibiani GoldStars’ dream start in the CAF Champions League turned sour on Saturday after a 2-0 home defeat to Algeria’s JS Kabylie in the preliminary round first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Head coach Frimpong Manso did not mince words in his post-match press conference, blaming his side’s careless passing and a shaky first-half display for the result.
“I think it was a difficult game, and we made too many mistakes in the first half. To be frank, against a team like this, if you start to lose passes in the midfield, you will always find yourself wanting. For me, especially in the first half, we didn’t play well,” Manso admitted.
GoldStars, appearing in Africa’s premier club competition for the first time, looked unsettled from the onset. Their loose play in midfield gifted Kabylie opportunities, and the visitors made them pay. Mehdi Merghem struck in the opening half, before Babacar Sarr added a second after the break from a well-executed corner.
FULL-TIME
Bibiani GoldStars SC 0️⃣-2️⃣ JS Kabylie pic.twitter.com/ig4mKeTKOA
— Bibiani GoldStars SC (@GoldStarsSc) September 20, 2025
Manso, who masterminded GoldStars’ historic Ghana Premier League triumph, conceded that his team’s lack of composure in transitions made life easier for their North African opponents.
“Our passes were poor; we were losing possession, and from midfield to attack, we were not supporting each other. After the first half, we made some changes, and I think it improved our game,” he explained.
Despite rallying in the latter stages, GoldStars could not claw back the deficit. They now face a steep challenge next week in Algeria, where they must overturn a two-goal disadvantage to keep their continental adventure alive.
