CR Belouizdad’s CAF Confederation Cup tie postponed after CAS ruling

CR Belouizdad have left Mauritania without playing after their CAF Confederation Cup meeting with AS Douanes was postponed following an order from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).

The Algerian club had been due to face AS Douanes in Nouakchott on Saturday, 17 October 2026, in the first leg of the second preliminary round. The decision, issued on Friday, 16 October, came after an appeal by Guinea’s Hafia FC.

Hafia FC are challenging the Confederation of African Football’s decision to allow AS Douanes to replay their first-round preliminary tie after the Mauritanian side failed to appear for the original match in Conakry on 11 September.

The delegation’s flight had been involved in an incident while landing in Nouakchott, preventing the team from travelling to Guinea. CAF treated the situation as force majeure and ordered the match to be played again. AS Douanes subsequently won the rearranged fixture 1-0.

After considering Hafia FC’s appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered provisional measures requiring CAF to postpone both matches between AS Douanes and CR Belouizdad while the legal process continues.

The ruling affects the first leg, which had been scheduled for 17 October in Nouakchott, as well as the return match planned to take place between 23 and 25 October. A new schedule will depend on further decisions from the relevant authorities.

The postponement came only hours before the planned kick-off, leaving CR Belouizdad having to revise its preparations after travelling to Mauritania for the continental fixture. The Algerian club had been aiming to secure an advantage in the tie and move closer to reaching the group stage.

According to information released by the club’s management, the first leg is expected to be rearranged for the beginning of November. However, no definitive date has yet been confirmed.

The dispute has therefore extended beyond a rearranged fixture, placing the ongoing disagreement involving Hafia FC, AS Douanes and CAF at the centre of the competition. Its outcome could affect the next stages of the tournament.

CR Belouizdad, despite not being the main party in the legal case, has been directly affected after spending two days in Mauritania ahead of a match that will now not take place as planned.