CAS orders CAF to postpone Confederation Cup tie amid Hafia FC appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone the two-legged CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie between AS Douanes of Mauritania and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad following an appeal by Guinean club Hafia FC.

The ruling comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over CAF’s decision to order a replay of Hafia’s first-round tie against AS Douanes, with the Guinean side challenging the governing body’s handling of the matter.

In its assessment, CAS noted that CAF had not provided sufficient justification for its decision based on force majeure. The court also highlighted that Hafia’s internal appeal to CAF had not received a response.

The development has put the scheduled second-round fixtures between AS Douanes and CR Belouizdad on hold as the legal proceedings continue.

Hafia are contesting CAF’s decision to order a replay of their first-round encounter against AS Douanes, a ruling that has become the central issue in the dispute.

The club’s appeal to CAS seeks to challenge the decision-making process and obtain a resolution through the sport’s independent arbitration body.

CAS’s order to postpone the second-round tie means the dispute must be addressed before the affected fixtures can proceed as originally planned.

However, the court has yet to deliver a final ruling on the substance of Hafia’s appeal, and the case remains ongoing.

The outcome could have implications for the progression of the clubs involved in the CAF Confederation Cup, depending on the final decision and any subsequent instructions issued by CAF.

For now, the postponement leaves the second preliminary round tie between AS Douanes and CR Belouizdad awaiting further developments, while Hafia continue their challenge against CAF’s replay decision.

Further details on the rescheduling of the fixtures and the final resolution of the dispute are expected as the proceedings before CAS progress.