Matthew Rusike looked to have earned the Chiefs a late draw in Sunday's first leg with an 86th-minute equaliser, but ASEC edged ahead once again in the second minute of stoppage time, as Koffi Davy Boua notched a second away goal.
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was livid after the match and, further to claiming his side lost to "a poor team", blasted ASEC for displaying what he perceived to be unsportsmanlike behaviour.
"I don't think you've got any idea what it's like playing against a team that’s throwing themselves on the ground," said the 60-year-old following criticism of his team selection.
"I call that cheating. If you want to lambast players who worked their socks off, you have to look at the tactical conditions for the match.
"What I don't like is lack of endeavour, passion and commitment from my players, and I told them in the change room.
"I still think we fielded a strong enough team. The bubbly pitch and the opponent's time-wasting antics tactically affected the flowing football that we wanted to play.
"We dominated play territorially and should still have won the game."
Baxter's men are also in the hunt for domestic league and cup glory in South Africa this season.
The coach added: "We are going through a gruelling, traumatic period in which we are competing for honours in three different events at the same time."
Sewe Sport's 2-0 defeat of Bayelsa United leaves the Nigerian side with a mountain to climb against opponents who have suffered only three losses in 26 matches.
Ghana's Medeama also have a tricky second leg ahead of them as they host Leopards de Dolisie, whom they lost 2-0 to on Sunday.
