Bibiani Gold Stars head coach Stephen Frimpong Manso has insisted that JS Kabylie's shaky start to the Algerian league season will have no bearing on this weekend's CAF Champions League preliminary round clash between the two sides.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the Ghanaian tactician emphasised that his team would not underestimate their Algerian opponents despite Kabylie's winless start to the 2025-2026 domestic campaign, which has seen them record two draws and a loss in their opening three matches.
"We don't have to even think about that. For me, it's nothing," Manso stated. "We still respect them a lot and the standings you are talking about it's three weeks old so it's nothing. For me, we are not thinking about that - they are a very strong side we respect them."
The Ghana Premier League champions are making their historic debut in Africa's premier club competition and will host the first leg at Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, after their regular home venue in Bibiani failed to meet CAF standards.
Manso warned against complacency, adding: "On the field of play, we will not say they are 14th on the table after three weeks so we are going to walk over them - no, not at all. It's going to be a tough game."
The match represents a classic continental encounter between an experienced North African side and debutants from West Africa, with the return leg scheduled for September 26 in Algeria.
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