CAS Halts AS Douanes vs CR Belouizdad Clash as Hafia FC Appeal Throws CAF Confederation Cup Into Uncertainty

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the postponement of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie between AS Douanes of Mauritania and CR Belouizdad of Algeria following a legal challenge by Guinean club Hafia FC.

The decision introduces fresh uncertainty into the continental competition, with the dispute centred on the circumstances surrounding CAF’s decision to order a replay of Hafia FC’s first-round encounter against AS Douanes.

According to the information provided, CAS intervened after Hafia FC challenged the governing body’s handling of the matter, raising concerns about the justification for the original decision and the lack of a response to the club’s internal appeal.

CAS reportedly noted that CAF had not adequately justified its force majeure decision and that Hafia’s appeal within the organisation had gone unanswered.

The developments have now affected the scheduling of the subsequent round, with the two-legged encounter between AS Douanes and CR Belouizdad ordered to be postponed while the dispute proceeds.

The case highlights the importance of transparent decision-making and established appeal procedures in African club football. Decisions involving replays, exceptional circumstances and competition eligibility can have significant consequences for clubs, particularly when qualification for the next stage is at stake.

For CR Belouizdad, the postponement means uncertainty over the timing of its continental campaign. AS Douanes also faces an unclear path forward while the dispute surrounding its previous-round tie remains unresolved.

Hafia FC, meanwhile, is seeking to challenge CAF’s decision to order the replay of its first-round match against the Mauritanian side. The outcome of the legal process could have implications for the competition’s progression and the parties involved.

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