Horoya AC will host JS Saoura of Algeria at the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry on Sunday, September 13, 2026, for the return leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round fixture, according to official club reports. The match marks the end of a three-year international ban that forced Guinéen clubs to play their continental home fixtures abroad due to stadium infrastructure limitations.
The Long Exile From Conakry
For the past three years, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) barred Guinean clubs from hosting matches on home soil because local venues failed to meet international standards. That suspension deprived a generation of supporters of continental fixtures in Conakry. According to Horoya AC, the Fédération Guinéenne de Football (FEGUIFOOT) secured temporary homologation for the Stade du 28 Septembre, clearing the venue to host Sunday’s 16:00 GMT kickoff.
Horoya head coach Nouhoum Diané addressed the atmosphere surrounding the team’s return during a pre-match press conference reported by Avenir Guinée. « You know, that whether it is here or elsewhere, sport is made of pressure, we cannot do anything without it. Now, whether we are coach or player, it is up to us to positive. Contrary to what you say, it is motivation that I have felt these last two days, and that is exactly what I wanted to see », Diané said.
Deficit to Overturn Against JS Saoura
The Rouge et Blanc enter Sunday’s fixture facing a 1–0 aggregate deficit after losing the first leg in Algeria. To advance to the second preliminary round, Horoya must overcome that margin in front of their home supporters. JS Saoura head coach Boudraa Lotfi expressed caution ahead of the return match, acknowledging the quality of the Guinéen side. « We have in front of us a great Horoya AC team, composed of experienced players and young talents », Lotfi told reporters, according to Avenir Guinée.
A Venue Built on Continental History
The Stade du 28 Septembre holds deep significance for Horoya AC, which built its reputation as a continental regular during the late 2010s under club owner Mamadou Antonio Souaré. Major African sides—including Wydad Casablanca, Al Ahly, Orlando Pirates, TP Mazembe, Raja Casablanca, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Platinum FC—have played competitive fixtures at the Conakry venue.
Among the stadium’s most notable recent fixtures was an 8 March 2020 CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg, where Horoya defeated Enyimba of Nigeria 2–0 to overturn a 1–1 first-leg draw, with goals from Bolaji Sakin and Boubacar Samassekou securing a spot in the semi-finals.
Match Details and What Lies Ahead
Sunday’s fixture kicks off at 16:00 GMT at the Stade du 28 Septembre. The winner on aggregate across the two legs will advance to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. Horoya must score without conceding to overturn the first-leg deficit and continue their campaign in Africa’s premier club tournament.
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