Sudanese giants Al Hilal have filed an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their controversial Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of RS Berkane.
The Sudanese based in Kigali alleges that Moroccan side RS Berkane fielded defender Hamza El Moussaoui while he was serving a doping suspension. The fallout from the tie, which saw Berkane progress 2-1 on aggregate, has left CAF facing a race against time to resolve a potential legal crisis before the semi-finals.
The dispute centers on a 30-day provisional suspension handed to El Moussaoui just 48 hours before the first leg.
According to Al Hilal officials, the ban, triggered by a failed doping test,was suddenly and “inexplicably” lifted on the morning of the match.
El Moussaoui subsequently appeared as a second-half substitute, winning a contentious penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time. The resulting goal secured a 1-1 draw for Berkane, a result that ultimately proved decisive after their 1-0 win in the return leg.
“We have submitted exhaustive evidence to the disciplinary committee,” a spokesperson for Al Hilal stated. “The integrity of the competition is at stake. Rules regarding doping are not suggestions; they are the bedrock of fair play.”
A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at CAF headquarters in Cairo. The governing body is under intense scrutiny to explain how a provisional suspension could be overturned within hours of a major continental fixture.
Under CAF disciplinary regulations, if a team is found to have fielded an ineligible player, the match is typically awarded to the opposition as a 3-0 forfeit. Should Al Hilal’s appeal be upheld, the aggregate score would be overturned, effectively disqualifying RS Berkane and reinstating Al Hilal into the final four.
The timing of the hearing leaves the tournament in a state of limbo. RS Berkane are currently preparing for an all-Moroccan semi-final against AS FAR.
Al Hilal fans have taken to social media in their thousands, demanding “justice for the Blue Wave.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) observers are also thought to be monitoring the situation, given the gravity of doping allegations.
Meanwhile, the drama has just intensified. In another major development, Véron Mosengo-Omba, the General Secretary of CAF, officially resigned yesterday, Sunday, March 29, 2026.
While his resignation statement cited “personal projects” and a desire to retire after 30 years in football administration, the timing, coming just 48 hours before the critical Al Hilal vs. RS Berkane, hearing has sent shockwaves through African football.
His exit follows a string of controversies, most notably the decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title and award it to Morocco, as well as mounting pressure over the Al Hilal doping allegations.
Critics are already questioning whether the resignation is a “strategic exit” to avoid the fallout from tomorrow’s ruling. If Al Hilal’s evidence regarding the “sudden lifting” of the doping ban is proven, it would point to a massive failure in the General Secretariat’s oversight.
