MATCH STATS: ASEC Mimosas seek to keep hold of top spot in Group B

ASEC Mimosa meet fellow debutants Gaborone United in their final Group B fixture on Saturday, only the second meeting between teams from Côte d’Ivoire and Southern Africa in the competition.

The only previous clash saw Mamelodi Sundowns defeat Athletico Abidjan 3-0 in the 2023 group stage.

Teams from West and Southern Africa have met six times previously in the group stages, with Southern African sides winning five of those matches.

Edo Queens’ 2-1 win over Sundowns in 2024 is the only victory by a West African team against Southern African opposition.

ASEC Mimosa – Key Statistics

·       Will qualify for the knockout stages with a draw or a win.

·       Will become the first team from Côte d’Ivoire to reach the last four if they progress.

·       Progression would make them the fifth different West African club to reach the semi-finals (subject to USFAS Bamako not progressing).

·       Previous West African semi-finalists: Hasaacas Ladies (2021), Ampem Darkoa (2023), Bayelsa Queens (2022), Edo Queens (2024).

·       Should both ASEC and USFAS Bamako advance, it will be the first time two West African teams reach the semi-finals at the same edition.

·       Began with a win over defending champions TP Mazembe and drew their second match against JKT Queens.

·       Both of their goals so far have been scored in the second half.

·       Conceded in the 8th minute against JKT and equalised via an 82nd-minute penalty by Erika Gnounoue.

·       Attempted 13 shots against JKT, their highest total in a single match; four were on target.

·       Attempted 365 passes against JKT, also their highest in a match; completed 231.

·       Held 63% possession on match day two, their highest so far.

·       Nina Yadi Dabilgou made 15 recoveries against JKT, the most by any ASEC player.

·       Have used only 14 players across two matches, keeping the same starting XI.

·       Are the fourth West African team to avoid defeat in their opening two matches, after Hasaacas Ladies (2021), AS Mande (2023) and Edo Queens (2024).

Gaborone United – Key Statistics

·       Lost 3-0 to TP Mazembe in their second group game.

·       Are yet to score after two matches.

·       Only the third team in finals history to fail to score in their first two games, after Determine Girls (2022) and Aigles de la Medina (2024).

·       Failure to score again would make them the third team to exit a tournament without scoring in all three group matches.

·       A win could see them qualify for the knockout stages; they would become the third Southern African team to do so after Mamelodi Sundowns.

·       Managed a single shot on target against TP Mazembe.

·       Faced nine shots on target in their loss to TP Mazembe.

·       Goalkeeper Tlamelo Pheresi made six saves in that match, the second most by any goalkeeper in a single game at the finals.

·       Attempted 268 passes against TP Mazembe, their highest total in a match so far.