The Confederation of African Football has officially thrown out a protest by Al Hilal SC over the eligibility of Hamza El Moussaoui, allowing RS Berkane to proceed to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
Doping Allegations Spark Controversy
Al Hilal’s protest was based on claims that El Moussaoui tested positive for a banned substance Prednisone/Prednisolone regulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The Sudanese club argued that:
- The player received a 30-day provisional suspension before the first leg
- The suspension was lifted on matchday, allowing him to feature
- He played a decisive role by winning a stoppage-time penalty in the 1–1 draw
Al Hilal insisted the result should have been overturned.
CAF Verdict Stands Firm
CAF’s Disciplinary Board rejected the protest on April 10, stating there was no basis to disqualify Berkane or alter the results.
The ruling came just hours before the semi-final, despite requests from Al Hilal to delay the fixture.
Berkane Edge Tight Quarter-Final
On the pitch, Berkane secured qualification with a narrow 2–1 aggregate victory:
- First Leg: 1–1 draw in Morocco
- Second Leg: 1–0 win in Kigali
All-Moroccan Semi-Final Confirmed
Berkane will now face AS FAR in a high-stakes Moroccan derby, guaranteeing a finalist from the country.
Hilal Set for CAS Appeal
Al Hilal remain unhappy with the decision and are preparing to escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, citing concerns over fairness and transparency.
For now, CAF’s decision keeps Berkane’s continental ambitions alive as the competition heads into its decisive stage.
