Egyptian side Al-Masry are preparing to lodge a formal complaint with Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a bid to contest the qualification of CR Belouizdad for the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The move follows the second leg of their quarter-final tie in Algeria, which ended goalless and confirmed Belouizdad’s progression on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Egypt.
According to reports from Egyptian outlet “Al-Masry Al-Youm,” the Port Said club intends to submit a complaint centred on the performance of Zimbabwean referee Brighton Chimene.
Club officials believe his decisions during the match had a decisive impact on the outcome.
The complaint reportedly focuses on an incident involving Algerian player Djaber Kaâssis, who is said to have received a second yellow card that should have resulted in his dismissal.
Al-Masry argue that the failure to enforce this decision may have influenced the course of the match.
As part of their submission, Al-Masry are expected to present detailed video analysis alongside supporting documentation to strengthen their case.
CAF could be required to review the evidence and determine whether a refereeing error occurred and if it had a bearing on the final result.
Should the governing body accept the complaint, the situation could cast doubt over the legitimacy of Belouizdad’s place in the semi-finals.
Such a development would risk further controversy in a competition already facing scrutiny, notably following issues linked to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
For now, Belouizdad’s qualification remains unchanged and officially recognised.
However, the potential appeal introduces fresh uncertainty, which could affect preparations ahead of the next stage of the tournament and prolong debate around the integrity of the tie.
