ASEC Mimosas may have reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League in their last outing, but their fans are under no illusion that being pitted against Zambian Super League champions Power Dynamos is an easy draw.
The Ivorians have a date against Power in the preliminary round of the Champions League. They will travel to Zambia for the first leg of the encounter during the weekend of September 19 – 22, before a return leg a week later.
Both teams have not played in the Champions League since the 2023/24 season, where Mimosas went as far as the last eight while Power were knocked out at the pre–group stage by Simba of Tanzania.
Reacting to the draw on the Mimosas’ Facebook page, some fans cautioned their club against taking Power Dynamos lightly.
“Zambian teams have always stood up to Asec Mimosas,” wrote follower Guilaume De Kabakouma Tiagbeu. “You have to be respected [disciplined] in the back and forth. Strength to my team, Asec Mimosas, the best club in the world.”
Asec last played in Zambia in 2018 against Zesco United, winning 1–0 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. However, Zesco overturned the result in the return leg with a 2–1 victory to qualify for the group stage.
“The game must be negotiated well in Zambia. Good luck to our soldiers,” posted Sylvain Aka. Another follower, using the name N’dri Andre Amani, warned that “football has evolved and there is no need to be overly defensive against Power.”
The winner of this match over two legs will proceed to the second preliminary round to face the winner between Namibia’s Africa Stars and Vipers of Uganda.
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