Stellenbosch's group stage campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup started with a 2-0 loss to Stade Malien de Bamako on Wednesday evening.
Bafana Bafana duo Sage Stephens and Jayden Adams picked out the eleven of the Maroons, but there was no place in the squad for Fawaaz Basadien.
The tournament debutants weren't unsettled ten minutes past kick-off and were unfortunate not to go in front when a glancing header from Sihle Ndluli off a throw-in hit the upright.
Malien overcame the scare over a five-minute spell and grabbed the lead through a snap shot from the edge of the area by Haman Mandjan which deflected past Stephens.
The deadlock had the host dictate terms all-round – leaving the Maroons firmly on the back-foot and unable to get any sort of rhythm going.
Stellenbosch were on the front-foot ahead of halftime, seeing a lot of the ball in forward areas but battled to pose danger nor fire in efforts of note.
A triple substitution by the Maroons before the second half saw Langelihle Phili, Ashley Cupido and Andre De Jong come on the park.
Ndluli, who fashioned a chance earlier looked to go one better with a snap shot from a nicely worked angle after cutting inside from the left but failed to find target.
Stellies enjoyed a more adventurous approach following the break and let the host to overload the half-spaces and unable to launch balls in the proper channels of their attack.
The chance though few and far between were coming for the Maroons as matters progressed and saw Adams head narrowly wide after meeting a probing delivery.
Malien were pretty lively late on, with a lot of forward entries in a quest to double the lead and did so when Dada Koulibaly tucked in from the penalty spot after a foul by Devon Titus.
The result see the Maroons start the group stages on the back-foot and also handed their first defeat of the tournament.
Confirmed line-ups:
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Moloisane, Mcaba, Mdaka, Jurgens, Nduli, Jabaar, Adams, Palace, Barns, Titus
Subs: Masuluke, Langeveldt, De Kock, Butsaka, De Jong, Phili, Cupido