Sekhukhune United’s first game in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages ended in a 2-0 loss to RS Berkane on Sunday evening.
It was a first outing for Babina Noko coach Lehlohonolo Seema, who gave a first start Ryan Baartman while Chibuike Ohizu, Elias Mokwana, Kamohelo Sithole and Jamie Webber started in attack.
The debutants got a rude awakening and trailed on 14 minutes when a free-kick from Mohamed El Mourabit found Adil Tahif on hand to seize the initiative.
Mokwana went close to get Sekhukhune back on equal terms six minutes later with a penetrative strike from a decent position, but ended up going wide of the mark.
The winger-cum-attacker was in again before the half-hour mark and nudged beyond the target courtesy of a supply from Bafna Bafana international Nyiko Mobbie.
In the second half, Babina Noko were under some pressure after Berkane attempted a second through a header from Mamadou Camara following a corner, but he narrowly missed.
Coach Seema made a change over ten minutes gone inside the resumption, with Webber coming off the field and Vusimuzi Mncube introduced.
Berkane remained in control and showed more forward play later on where a smart effort from Youssef Zghoudi were blocked before the goal-scorer Tahir saw a free-kick parried too.
It remained an uphill battle for Babina Noko, whilst the two-time champions continued to stretch them with relentless overloads from all angles.
Sekhukhune battled to keep the host at bay but conceded again with three minutes to play as Youssef El Fahli fired in the bottom corner from Youssef Mehri’s shot.
In the end, the champions from last year landed all the points and got off to a winning start in this season’s group stages.
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