Controversial rulings and legal disputes deepen scrutiny of African football’s governing body
Confederation of African Football is facing renewed scrutiny after a series of complaints from Senegalese officials and Sudanese club Al-Hilal Omdurman cast doubt over the organisation’s disciplinary processes and the integrity of its competitions.
The latest concerns come amid an already turbulent period for CAF, which is still dealing with the fallout from the disputed 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. That case remains under review at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, prolonging uncertainty around one of the continent’s flagship tournaments.
New dispute emerges in Champions League
Attention has now shifted to the CAF Champions League, where Al-Hilal have formally challenged the outcome of their quarter-final tie against RS Berkane. The Sudanese side were eliminated after a 2-1 aggregate defeat but are seeking to be awarded a place in the semi-finals.
Their appeal centres on the alleged ineligibility of player Hamza Al-Mousawi, who they claim featured in both legs despite testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. Al-Hilal have called for a full investigation into the matter, arguing that the integrity of the competition has been compromised.
Claims of procedural violations
In a strongly worded statement, Al-Hilal criticised the handling of disciplinary proceedings by CAF, alleging serious breaches of due process during a recent hearing.
The club said:
“Al-Hilal expresses its deep concern and strongest condemnation of what happened during the Disciplinary Committee hearing held today at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football in the case related to the eligibility of player Hamza Al-Mousawi after a positive doping test result was confirmed.”
It added:
“What happened during this session cannot be considered a mere passing procedural violation, but rather represents a serious breakdown of the basic principles of due process, and raises deep doubts about the independence, credibility and legitimacy of the disciplinary bodies in CAF, as well as about the integrity of African football in general.”
The Sudanese club went further, alleging a conflict of interest involving the chairman of the panel.
“From the beginning, the composition of the arbitration panel was fundamentally flawed. The chairman of the session, Mr. Othman Kane, had previously participated in the decision to lift the temporary suspension of the player in question, which was the first spark of the series of events that led to this case, creating a clear and undeniable conflict of interest. Despite our immediate objection, it became clear that the other party had prior knowledge of the composition of the panel and had agreed to it in a meeting attended by Al-Hilal Club.”
Hearing conduct questioned
Al-Hilal also raised concerns about how the hearing itself was conducted, pointing to communication issues and alleged unequal treatment between the parties.
The statement continued:
“During the session, serious procedural violations occurred, as one of the panel members stated that he was unable to understand English, without providing a suitable translation. Our request to re-present or clarify our arguments was also rejected, and our representatives were abruptly removed while deliberations and voting were ongoing.”
It further claimed:
“What’s more serious is that while our delegation was excluded, the other party’s lawyer was allowed to remain in the session, and the club’s representatives were repeatedly interrupted and prevented from presenting their case fairly.”
Wider concerns over governance
These developments follow earlier complaints from Senegalese football authorities regarding CAF committee procedures in separate cases, adding to a growing perception of inconsistency and lack of transparency.
In response to mounting criticism, CAF had already indicated earlier this month that it intends to review its regulations and restructure its committees. The move is widely seen as an attempt to restore confidence in its governance framework.
Credibility at stake as crises mount
With multiple disputes unfolding simultaneously, CAF faces increasing pressure to demonstrate accountability and reinforce trust in its decision-making processes. The outcome of ongoing legal and disciplinary cases could prove pivotal in determining the organisation’s credibility.
As African football continues to expand its global profile, the resolution of these controversies will be closely watched, not only by clubs and federations but also by supporters concerned about fairness and transparency in the game.
