The Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala has been entrusted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) with officiating the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR. The highly anticipated match is scheduled for May 17 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.

An experienced official with a recent controversial final

At 38 years old, Ndala is no stranger to high-stakes matches, having previously refereed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat. Despite facing criticism for his decisions during that game—including a controversial offside call that nullified a Senegalese goal and a subsequent penalty awarded to Morocco via VAR—CAF has reaffirmed its confidence in his abilities.

Recent appointments highlight Ndala’s return to major fixtures

Since the AFCON final controversy, Ndala has continued to be selected for pivotal fixtures, including:

• A February 5 group-stage match between Young Africans and JS Kabylie.
• A March 14 quarter-final clash in the CAF Confederation Cup between Al-Masry and CR Belouizdad.

Controversial decisions and their aftermath

During the AFCON final, Ndala’s decisions sparked a temporary walk-off by the Senegalese team, leading to a match delay. While Senegal initially won 1-0 after extra time, CAF later awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory in March 2026, citing Senegal’s brief team withdrawal as a violation of competition regulations. Despite these incidents, the continental body has maintained its trust in Ndala for the upcoming Champions League showdown.

Final preparations and future implications

Under IFAB rules, referee decisions are final and cannot be overturned on sporting grounds. The first leg of the Champions League final will take place in Pretoria on May 17, followed by the return match in Rabat a week later on May 24.