ASEC on the hunt for quarterfinal berth

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Mar 14, 2019. 10:00

ASEC Mimosas will chase an unlikely berth in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League when they face hosts Lobi Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Saturday, 16 March 2019, kick-off at 18h00 CAT.

ASEC come into the match placed third on the Group A log, level on points with second-placed Wydad Casablanca but ranked below the Moroccans on the head-to-head tie breaker.

The Ivorian giants defeated the North Africans 2-0 in Abidjan last weekend – thanks to a brace from Ahmed Toure – to give themselves a hope of advancing.

Lobi Stars, however, have been mathematically eliminated following a 3-0 loss away to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns which leaves them at the bottom of the log.

For the Mimosas to qualify for the final eight, they must hope Sundowns deny Wydad a victory in the other Group A match (which will be played simultaneously in Rabat) and then better the Moroccan side’s result.

The Matchday 2 meeting of ASEC and Stars in Abidjan in January saw the Ivorian side claim a narrow 1-0 win, with a goal from Herve Diomande.

The Ortom Boys will hope to gain some revenge for that defeat and at least have the satisfaction of denying their fellow West Africans a place in the knockout phase.

Tunisian referee Haythem Guirat will take charge of the match in Enugu.