AS Douanes reach CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round after Hafia appeal rejected

AS Douanes have been confirmed as the final team to progress to the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Hafia Conakry’s appeal.

The Mauritanian club will now face Chabab Belouizdad for a place in the group stage of the 2026/2027 competition.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced its decision on Monday, 9 November 2026, in Lausanne, ruling against the Guinean side’s challenge to the rescheduling of the second-leg match between the clubs.

AS Douanes said the court had dismissed Hafia’s appeal, submitted on 8 October 2026, and upheld the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Club Competitions Organising Committee on 14 September 2026.

That ruling found that “force majeure” had prevented the original fixture from being played as planned and ordered the first preliminary-round second leg to be rearranged.

The latest decision confirms AS Douanes’ qualification for the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dispute over postponed second leg

The first meeting between the clubs ended in a 2-2 draw in Mauritania. The return fixture was scheduled for 11 September, but AS Douanes were unable to travel to Guinea, citing logistical problems.

The match was subsequently played at a later date, with AS Douanes winning 1-0 to secure their progress.

Hafia then appealed against the CAF decision, arguing that the Mauritanian club’s failure to arrive in Conakry on 11 September was caused by avoidable organisational problems rather than circumstances amounting to force majeure.

The second preliminary-round tie between AS Douanes and Chabab Belouizdad had not been played while the legal proceedings were ongoing.

The draw for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage also took place without the identity of the winning team being confirmed. The winner of the delayed tie was placed in the first pot for the draw.

Whoever prevails between AS Douanes and Chabab Belouizdad will join Group C alongside Zambian club Red Arrows, Congolese side Maniema and Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca.

CAF is expected to announce the date of the second preliminary-round match before the group stage begins. The fixture will determine the 16th and final team in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

The group-stage campaign is scheduled to start on one of 27, 28 or 29 November, following the end of the international break.