Moroccan football club AS FAR has voiced strong objections to the appointment of referee Jean-Jacques Ndala for the first leg of the CAF Champions League final, where they are set to face Mamelodi Sundowns.

With the CAF Champions League first leg scheduled for May 17th in Pretoria, South Africa, a palpable tension is building around the officiating. The announcement of Jean-Jacques Ndala as the match referee has been met with widespread discontent across Morocco.

Marking their return to the final after 41 years, AS FAR directly conveyed its apprehensions to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) concerning the Congolese official’s appointment. Jean-Jacques Ndala gained notoriety for his management during the chaotic CAN 2025 final involving Morocco and Senegal, according to reports from Micky Jnr.

AS FAR demands immediate replacement of Jean-Jacques Ndala

The Rabat-based club highlighted specific incidents, including the failure to halt the match following the Senegalese team’s walk-off on January 18th at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, as well as the absence of yellow cards for players who committed fouls upon their return to the pitch.

Furthermore, the same source indicates that AS FAR expressed bewilderment over Ndala’s selection, especially given that FIFA had sidelined the 38-year-old official from the 2026 World Cup due to his performance in that very CAN 2025 final. The club is unequivocally calling for the immediate replacement of the referee.