AS FAR challenges referee appointment for CAF Champions League final

The Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala, who previously officiated the recent Africa Cup of Nations final, has been designated to referee the first leg of the African Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR. This appointment has drawn significant contention from the Moroccan club.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) appears to have sparked considerable discussion surrounding the upcoming CAF Champions League final between AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns. By assigning Jean-Jacques Ndala, a referee known for his involvement in the contentious CAN 2025 final, to the crucial first leg scheduled for Sunday, May 17, in Pretoria, the continental body has ignited a storm across social media and beyond. Ndala has been under intense scrutiny since the pivotal match on January 18 in Rabat, where his officiating was widely perceived as overwhelmed. Now, the Moroccan finalists are openly challenging his selection.

AS FAR formally contests CAF’s decision

Reports from local media indicate that the Royal Armed Forces club has officially communicated its objections regarding Ndala’s appointment to the CAF. In their formal correspondence, the capital city team expresses concerns, among other grievances, about the perceived disparity in the composition of the refereeing trios for the two final legs. They highlight a predominance of officials from the same nationality surrounding Jean-Jacques Ndala for the first leg, in contrast to a significantly more diverse panel anticipated for the return match on May 24 in Rabat. It is also noted that Ndala was not included among the African referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mr. Ndala’s past performance under scrutiny

However, AS FAR’s primary objection centers on Mr. Ndala’s recent history, specifically his handling of the CAN 2025 final. The military club’s argument echoes Morocco’s previous appeal to the CAF, where they challenged his non-application of regulations during that match. This earlier reasoning led the Appeal Jury to declare Morocco the winner by forfeit, based on articles 82 and 84 of the competition’s rules. That decision is currently awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) following an appeal by Senegal. In the interim, CAF now faces another significant challenge, especially as reports suggest that Mamelodi Sundowns may also be disputing Jean-Jacques Ndala’s appointment.