Beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Maghreb de Fès, ASEC Mimosas are out of the Champions League. With them, none of the four Ivorian clubs involved in CAF competitions reach the group stage. Togolese international defender Youssifou Atté reacts.
The return leg evening in Abidjan will leave a bitter taste for ASEC Mimosas. In front of their home crowd at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny, the reigning Ivorian champions lost 1-2 to Maghreb de Fès and exit the Champions League, beaten 3-2 on aggregate, according to Pan Africa Football.
With this exit, none of the four Ivorian representatives involved in CAF interclub competitions reach the group stage, reports foot-africa.com. FC San Pedro were also eliminated in the Champions League, by FC Nouadhibou, while AFAD du Plateau and CO Korhogo were knocked out in the Confederation Cup.
A cruel scenario in Abidjan
Christopher Ibayi opened the scoring for Maghreb de Fès, before Kevin Bakare equalised for ASEC in the 73rd minute. Khalid Baba popped up in the 90+7th minute to score the winning goal, according to Pan Africa Football.
That goal came in stoppage time, after the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Meknes on 18 October. The elimination is particularly significant for ASEC, who had already endured a difficult start to the season in Ligue 1 LONACI: two points from three matches, with two games in hand, according to Pan Africa Football. The club therefore leaves the continental stage without reaching the group stage.
Atté’s reaction
Youssifou Atté reacted on Instagram, relayed by Pan Africa Football: “We learn and we keep moving forward, difficult to accept but we keep head up and we thank god for everything.”
For AFAD, the exit was decided against CSS Sfaxien in the return leg, despite an early goal from Belwafi and a nervous finish until the last minute, reports AllAfrica.
A failure that raises questions
The outlet foot-africa.com describes this zero Ivorian clubs in the group stage as a “resounding failure”. The sporting reality is clear: four entrants, four eliminated.
ASEC Mimosas travel to ISCA on Thursday 29 October 2026 in Ligue 1 LONACI.