From Bibiani to the Continent: GoldStars set to fly Ghana’s flag against JS Kabylie

GoldStars Aim to Shine as Ghana’s Newcomers in CAF Champions League

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Sep 20, 2025

For the third successive season, a debutant club will carry Ghana’s hopes in the CAF Champions League.

Two years ago, Medeama broke an 11-year drought by reaching the group stage, but Samartex fell short last season, bowing out in the second preliminary round to Morocco’s Raja Casablanca.

Now it is the turn of Bibiani GoldStars, whose maiden continental outing could hardly be tougher. They begin their campaign against Algeria’s record 14-time champions and two-time CAF Champions League winners, JS Kabylie, in the first preliminary round.

Head coach Frimpong Manso admits the scale of the challenge but insists his side is ready to compete.

“JSK are one of the strongest and most confident sides on the continent. In terms of experience, they are certainly ahead of us, as they have featured in the Champions League for many years. This is our first attempt,” he told Joy Sports.

“But that does not mean we will show them too much respect. We also need to begin our own journey towards becoming a club of their calibre. It will be a very difficult game, but we are determined to secure a strong first-leg result. Although they are a formidable side, we will not be intimidated.”

The Ghanaian champions have been putting in the work ahead of their continental debut. Their pre-season began in mid-July and included over a dozen friendlies, capped with victory in the GHALCA Top 4 competition. They also have two competitive fixtures under their belt, giving them valuable momentum.

Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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