AS FAR challenges the selection of Jean-Jacques Ndala
The CAF has sparked significant debate by choosing Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the African Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR. By appointing the same referee who handled the high-tension CAN 2025 final, the Confederation of African Football has triggered a wave of reactions across social media and within the football community. Ndala, whose performance during the pivotal match in Rabat last January was heavily criticized, is now being formally contested by the Moroccan finalists.
Official complaint filed with CAF
Reports from local media indicate that the Rabat-based club has officially reached out to CAF to express their grievances. In a formal correspondence, the team highlighted a perceived lack of balance in the officiating crews assigned to the two legs. They pointed out that the first leg, scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, features a group of officials with little national diversity surrounding Jean-Jacques Ndala—who was notably excluded from the list of African referees for the 2026 World Cup. In contrast, the return leg on May 24 in Rabat boasts a much more geographically diverse officiating staff.
The weight of the CAN 2025 final
The core of AS FAR‘s objection lies in Ndala‘s recent track record, specifically his management of the CAN 2025 final. The club argues that his failure to enforce regulations during that match should disqualify him from such a prestigious appointment. This same controversy previously led the Appeals Jury to award Morocco a victory by forfeit, a decision currently under review by the CAS following an appeal by Sénégal. Meanwhile, the CAF finds itself in a difficult position as reports suggest that Mamelodi Sundowns may also be dissatisfied with the choice of referee for this crucial encounter.