The selection of Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to officiate the first leg of the African Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR has been formally challenged by the Moroccan club. Ndala was also the referee for the contentious final of the last Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision by the CAF to appoint Jean-Jacques Ndala for the first-leg match in Pretoria on May 17 has ignited a firestorm, particularly across social media. This move, placing him in charge of the crucial encounter between AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns, has brought back memories of the turbulent AFCON 2025 final. The Congolese official’s performance during that fateful match in Rabat on January 18 was widely seen as overwhelmed, and he is now facing opposition from the Moroccan finalists.

CAF presented with a new official challenge

According to local media reports, the Royal Armed Forces club has formally communicated its concerns regarding Ndala’s appointment to the CAF. In an official letter, the team from the Moroccan capital highlighted several issues. Among their grievances is an alleged imbalance in the makeup of the refereeing teams for the two legs. The first leg, officiated by Ndala, features a crew predominantly of the same nationality, whereas the team for the return leg in Rabat on May 24 is more diverse. It was also noted that Ndala was not selected among the African referees for the 2026 World Cup.

Mr. Ndala’s record under scrutiny

The primary focus of AS FAR’s complaint, however, is Mr. Ndala’s recent history, specifically his management of the AFCON 2025 final. Echoing the arguments from Morocco’s previous appeal to the CAF, the club accuses the referee of failing to apply the regulations correctly during that match. This line of reasoning previously led the Appeal Jury to declare Morocco the winner by forfeit, citing articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s rules. That decision has since been challenged by Sénégal at the CAS. In the meantime, this new development presents another complex issue for the CAF, especially as reports suggest that Mamelodi Sundowns also object to Jean-Jacques Ndala’s appointment.