CAF sets date for hearing as Al Hilal demand clarity over Berkane’s player eligibility

Sudanese giants Al-Hilal SC have confirmed receipt of an official letter from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) setting April 9, 2026 as the date for a hearing into their complaint against Morocco’s RS Berkane, relating to their recent CAF Champions League clash.

The development comes just two days before Berkane’s semi-final first leg against AS FAR, adding urgency and tension to an already heated situation.

The dispute stems from Al-Hilal’s over the eligibility of Berkane player Hamza Moussaoui, who featured in the quarter-final tie between the two clubs.

On the pitch, RS Berkane secured qualification for the semi-finals in dramatic fashion, defeating Al-Hilal 1–0 in the second leg after a 1–1 draw in the first leg. The Moroccan side’s late winner sealed progression in what was a fiercely contested encounter.

Berkane are now set to face AS FAR in an all-Moroccan semi-final, while Espérance de Tunis will take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the other last-four clash.

However, with Al-Hilal threatening to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if their demands are not met, the controversy surrounding the tie could yet have major implications for the competition.

Below is Al Hilal’s statement:

“Al Hilal Club received today, for the first time, a letter from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) setting a hearing in case number DC/337 on April 9, 2026, two days before the semi-final match between FAR Rabat and RS Berkane.

This follows five official communications submitted between March 23 and April 3, 2026, to which we have received no response. The scheduling of this hearing confirms that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has received and accepted Al-Hilal’s complaint, and we welcome this. However, we have serious concerns about what will happen next.

However, Al Hilal has not received any communication regarding the position of RS Berkane, Hamza Moussaoui, or any other party involved in this matter. We cannot be expected to attend a hearing in good faith without knowing the position of all parties involved beforehand. This silence is procedurally unacceptable.

We have formally requested that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirm, by 11:00 AM (Cairo time) on April 6, 2026, that it will either issue a decision and communicate it to all parties before the match on April 11, 2026, or that the match will be postponed until a final decision is reached. If we do not receive a response, we will immediately file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Al Hilal Club also points out that the hearing on April 9, 2026 will be chaired by the same individual who signed the decision of March 14, 2026 to lift the temporary suspension on Hamza Al Moussaoui without a legal basis and without notifying Al Hilal Club.

If the Confederation of African Football (CAF) wants to be taken seriously as an institution committed to procedural fairness and the rule of law, it must declare this individual to be in a conflict of interest and remove him from any further involvement in this matter without delay.

Al-Hilal remains committed to defending its rights and the integrity of African football through all available legal means.”