In the first leg of the preliminary round match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Power Dynamos defeated ASEC Mimosas thanks to a single goal from Innocent Kashita.

Kashita scored the game’s seventh goal after heading in a cross that captain Prince Mumba had provided.

Prince Mumba, a midfielder, received the ball from defender Kondwani Chiboni and sent a precise cross that Kashita easily finished.

The outcome did not satisfy coach Osward Mutapa, who thought the team could have scored more goals.

“Football has moments; when you have a chance, you need to take it,” Mutapa said after the game.

With the victory, Power Dynamos, who are returning to the competition after missing out on Champions League football the previous season, are off to a fantastic start

Power tried to double the advantage in the second half but was not clinical on goal. The visitors did not pose much threat to get an equalizer.

ASEC coach Julien Chevalier said the early goal disturbed his team.

“The game plan was to be organized and to use the opening minutes to see the intensity of the opponent. It is difficult to let yourselves concede with the first chance of the goal of the opponent,” Chevalier said.

Power will now shift focus to the second leg in Abidjan.