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

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone the two-legged second preliminary round tie between AS Douanes of Mauritania and CR Belouizdad of Algeria in the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup following an appeal by Guinea’s Hafia FC.

The matches, initially scheduled to take place between October 17 and 25, have been put on hold after CAS granted interim measures in response to Hafia FC’s challenge against a CAF decision concerning the competition’s first preliminary round.

The Guinean club contested CAF’s decision to order a replay of the second leg of their first preliminary round tie against AS Douanes, arguing against the governing body’s handling of the matter.

After examining Hafia FC’s application, CAS ordered CAF to suspend the progression of the affected fixtures pending further proceedings.

In its decision, the court noted that CAF’s invocation of force majeure to justify its ruling contained no reasoning. CAS also highlighted that Hafia FC’s internal appeal, submitted to the CAF Appeals Panel on September 16, 2026, had remained unanswered.

The development has disrupted the schedule for the second preliminary round, leaving AS Douanes and Algerian side CR Belouizdad waiting for further clarification before they can contest their two-legged encounter.

The first leg was originally scheduled for October 17, with the return leg set to take place between October 23 and 25.

The postponement adds another layer of uncertainty to the Confederation Cup campaign as the dispute involving Hafia FC and CAF awaits resolution. The next steps will depend on the proceedings and any subsequent decisions by the relevant authorities.