Steve Barker: CAF Confed Cup fate in Stellenbosch hands

The South Africans face Stade Malien of Mali in the penultimate match of the group stages, knowing nothing but a win will guarantee a safe passage to the knockout phase. 

Still in their maiden inter-club campaign, Barker wants nothing more than to make further history of reaching the quarter-finals of their own accord.

"It is a massive game for us as a team and a football club, as everybody very well knows it's our maiden attempt at playing on the continent in the Confed Cup, and at every stage we want to be advancing to the following stage," said Barker.

"[This game] affords us an opportunity to get ourselves into the knockout stages, which would be an incredible achievement as a football club – we've prepared well, the players are extremely committed and we want to see ourselves advancing in the tournament.

"We've travelled a lot, we've worked hard, and it's been over a year in the making, so it's to go out there and give 100 per cent to reward ourselves for everything that we've done to get ourselves this far.

"We obviously understand our opposition have the same ambitions, our first group stage game away was a tough encounter against them, but I believe since then we've also grown and learnt a lot – how to deal with certain situations to ensure we get a win.

"That would obviously then seal the knockout stages, we do not want to be going away in the last game to Berkane needing a result, so we know it's in our hands and therefore it's 100 per cent our responsibility to win the game."

Stellies are second in Group B with six points, while Stade Malien are in third place on four points, with two matches remaining. RS Berkane, who are top of the table on 12 points, have already progressed, while CD Lunda Sul have been eliminated with just one point.