CAF postpones group-stage opener for winner of Customs v CR Belouizdad

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to set a date for the second preliminary-round tie between Mauritanian side Customs and Algerian club CR Belouizdad in the Confederation Cup.

The decision follows a ruling by the sports tribunal that confirmed Customs’ progression from the first preliminary round at the expense of Guinea’s Hafia FC.

A CAF source told FilGoal.com: “We have not yet set a date for the match between Mauritania’s Customs and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad following the sports tribunal’s decision.”

The source added that the tie would be played over two legs during the same week, after the international break.

“The first group-stage match for the winner will also be postponed to a later date because of the limited time available,” the source said.

The second preliminary-round tie had not been played while the clubs awaited the tribunal’s decision. The group-stage draw took place without the name of the team that would qualify from the tie being confirmed, although the winner was included in the first seeding pot.

The winner has been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia’s Red Arrows, Congolese club Maniema and Angola’s Singida.

CAF is expected to announce the date of the Customs v CR Belouizdad match before the group stage begins. The fixture is needed to determine the 16th team in the Confederation Cup group stage.

The group stage is scheduled to begin on one of 27, 28 or 29 November, after the international break.

Why the tie was delayed

Customs and Hafia drew 2-2 in the first leg of their opening preliminary-round tie in Mauritania. The return match was originally scheduled for 11 September.

Customs were unable to travel to Guinea for the fixture, citing logistical reasons. The match was subsequently played at a later date, with Customs winning 1-0 to secure qualification for the second preliminary round.

Hafia then appealed against CAF’s decision, arguing that there had been no compelling circumstances to justify Customs’ failure to arrive in Conakry on the scheduled date.

The Guinean club maintained that Customs’ absence on 11 September was the result of organisational failures that could have been avoided, rather than a case of force majeure.

The sports tribunal’s ruling ultimately backed Customs’ qualification, allowing the Mauritanian club to retain its place in the competition and leaving CAF to reschedule its tie with CR Belouizdad.