Before Facing Al Ahly, CAF Rejects Al Hilal's Request!

Africa 07 March 2025 at 06:17

Mohamed Rek

News Editor

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected the request from Sudanese club Al Hilal to relocate their return leg match against Egypt's Al Ahly, in the quarter-finals of the African Champions League (season 24/2025).
The club wanted to play the match at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi (Libya) instead of the Cheikha Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott (Mauritania).

No Benghazi for Al Hilal

In a statement released on its official website, Al Hilal declared:

"The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has once again rejected Al Hilal's request to adopt the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi as a fallback venue for the return leg against Egypt's Al Ahly.

CAF justified its decision based on a recommendation from the broadcast committee, stating that the Libyan broadcaster did not meet the criteria required to ensure the transmission of the match. These requirements include the presence of an OB van, at least 12 cameras with precise specifications, and a VAR room equipped with all necessary devices for action replay and verification, elements deemed essential at this stage of the competition.

Al Hilal had nonetheless provided the agreement of the Libyan Federation and Libyan television. The club made numerous efforts to convince CAF to reconsider its decision, striving to meet the technical requirements mentioned in the rejection letter."

In light of the tight deadlines imposed for stadium designation, we have asked CAF to approve the "Cheikha Boïdiya" stadium in Mauritania as a fallback venue, after our management designated it for its availability, to avoid the expiration of the deadline set by the CAF competitions committee."

It should be noted that Al Ahly, the titleholder, will host Al Hilal on April 1 at the Cairo International Stadium for the first leg of the African Champions League quarter-finals. The return leg will take place on April 8 at the "Cheikha Boïdiya" stadium in Mauritania.

Read also: CAF Champions League: The complete honors list of the competition!