CAF Champions League: ASEC Mimosas fall to Power Dynamos in preliminary round opener

ASEC Mimosas suffered a setback in Zambia after losing 1-0 to Power Dynamos in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round clash on Saturday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The decisive goal came as early as the eighth minute when Prince Mumba delivered a precise cross that found Kashita, whose well-placed header left the Ivorian goalkeeper with no chance.

The early blow forced the Ivorian champions to chase the game, but despite periods of dominance, they were unable to penetrate a disciplined and resilient Zambian defence.

Throughout the match, ASEC pushed forward in search of an equaliser, building attacks with intent but struggling to carve out clear scoring chances.

Their efforts were consistently frustrated by a Power Dynamos side that combined defensive organisation with composure under pressure, keeping the visitors at bay.

The narrow defeat leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg in Abidjan. For ASEC, the task is now clear: overturn the one-goal deficit in front of their supporters to secure progression

The Ivorian club will need to be sharper in the final third if they are to keep their ambitions in Africa’s most prestigious club competition alive.

On the other hand, Power Dynamos have placed themselves in a strong position, carrying a crucial advantage into the second leg.

The Zambian side will travel to Ivory Coast with renewed confidence, knowing that a draw would be enough to see them through to the next stage.

The result underlines the unpredictable nature of the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds, where even the continent’s most experienced clubs are tested against determined opponents.

ASEC, with their proud history in African football, now face the challenge of delivering a convincing response on home soil to keep their campaign on track.