Bibiani GoldStars coach Frimpong Manso has admitted his side face an uphill task in their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie after a 2-0 first-leg defeat to Algerian heavyweights JS Kabylie.
The Ghana Premier League champions struggled to impose themselves at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, leaving their qualification hopes hanging ahead of the return leg next week.
Manso, who guided GoldStars to their maiden league title last season, remained defiant but realistic when asked about their chances.
“No, it’s not over yet. Now we’ve lost the first leg, yes, and this is the first leg. Next week we go to Algeria for the second leg.
“Yes, it’s a tall order, but we’ll see if we’re able to correct most of the mistakes we made. I think we’ll do well in the second leg,” he told reporters.
GoldStars were undone by a goal in each half, with Mehdi Merghem striking first after connecting brilliantly with a cross from the right in the 21st minute.
Babacar Sarr then punished slack marking from a corner to tap home in the 70th minute, doubling JS Kabylie’s advantage.
The reverse fixture in Algeria next week will determine who progresses to the second preliminary round, where the winner faces either East End Lions of Sierra Leone or Tunisia’s US Monastir.
