THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) ORDERS PROVISIONAL MEASURES REGARDING THE SECOND PRELIMINARY ROUND OF THE 2026/2027 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
(MATCH: AS DOUANES VS. CR BELOUIZDAD)
Lausanne, 16 October 2026 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered provisional measures in the proceedings between Hafia Football Club (Hafia FC), the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and Association Sportive des Douanes (AS Douanes). The CAS has ordered the postponement of the second preliminary round tie of the 2026/2027 CAF Confederation Cup between Association Sportive des Douanes and CR Belouizdad, which was originally scheduled for 17 October 2026 (first leg) and between 23 and 25 October 2026 (second leg).
On 11 September 2026, the aircraft intended to transport the AS Douanes delegation from Nouakchott to Conakry—for the return leg of the first preliminary round match between AS Douanes and Hafia FC—was unable to take off. Upon being informed of these circumstances, the CAF Competitions Division deemed the situation a case of force majeure and rescheduled the match for the following weekend. On September 16, 2026, Hafia FC appealed this decision to the CAF Appeal Board.
On September 19, 2026, the return leg took place in Conakry, ending in a 1–0 victory for AS Douanes, which qualified them for the second preliminary round of the competition.
On October 8, 2026—as the CAF Appeal Board had yet to issue a ruling—Hafia FC filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting an expedited procedure and the implementation of provisional measures. Hafia FC contests the CAF decision, arguing that the AS Douanes absence was the result of an organisational failure rather than a case of force majeure.
The CAS Sole Arbitrator reviewed the request for provisional measures and granted it in part.
The decision orders the CAF to postpone the second preliminary round tie of the 2026/2027 CAF Confederation Cup between Association Sportive des Douanes and CR Belouizdad—originally scheduled for October 17, 2026, and October 23–25, 2026—and stipulates that the matches may not be played before November 6, 2026.
Provisional measures are temporary orders issued by the Tribunal to safeguard the integrity of sports competitions. The measure ordered by the CAS today does not in any way prejudge the qualification of either of the teams concerned. It is for the CAS to rule on the merits of this dispute as soon as possible, and subsequently for the CAF to set new dates for this second-round tie—comprising both a first and a second leg—so that it may be played before the first matchday of the group stage.
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