Bibiani GoldStars have been handed a tough baptism in continental football after drawing Algerian giants JS Kabylie in the first preliminary round of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The Miners, who stunned the Ghana Premier League last season by lifting their maiden title, will host the first leg in Ghana between September 19 and 21 before travelling to Algiers for the decisive return fixture a week later, between September 26 and 28.
It’s a clash that pits a debutant with big dreams against one of Africa’s most storied clubs. JS Kabylie, two-time African champions (1981, 1990), boast decades of experience on the continental stage. GoldStars, in contrast, are preparing for their very first taste of CAF Champions League action and they’re aiming high.
Club CEO Akwasi Adu has already set the target: reach the group stage, known as the “money zone” for its lucrative rewards. Coach Frimpong Manso says his side is leaving nothing to chance, with reinforced signings and the most intense pre-season preparations in the club’s history.
“We know the challenge ahead, but we also know what we’re capable of,” Manso declared.
Captain Yakubu Haqq believes this year’s preparation surpasses anything the club has done before, while former Hearts of Oak coach Aboubakar Ouattara has tipped GoldStars to surprise many in the competition.
Victory over JS Kabylie would set up a second preliminary round meeting with either Sierra Leone’s East End Lions or Tunisia’s US Monastir in October, with the ultimate prize being a spot among Africa’s elite in the group stage.
For GoldStars, the home leg will be crucial. A strong result in front of their fans could be the key to surviving the daunting trip to Algiers, where Kabylie’s passionate home support and experience could tilt the tie.
With Ghanaian football eyes fixed firmly on Bibiani, the Miners are on the brink of writing a new chapter ; one that could elevate them from surprise domestic champions to continental contenders.
