Jean-Jacques Ndala to officiate the CAF Champions League final first leg

The Confédération africaine de football has appointed Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the Ligue des champions final. This highly anticipated clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, South Africa.

At 38 years old, the Congolese official remains a prominent figure in African football, famously having officiated the Coupe d’Afrique des nations final between Sénégal and Maroc. Despite the wave of criticism following that performance, the continental governing body has reaffirmed its trust in him through several high-stakes appointments in recent club competitions.

Match officials confirmed for the Pretoria showdown

Jean-Jacques Ndala will lead the officiating team at the Loftus Versfeld stadium, the home ground of the Sundowns, for this opening encounter. The return leg of the final is set to take place in Maroc exactly one week later.

Since the conclusion of CAN 2025, the referee has been consistently selected for major fixtures. His recent portfolio includes a group stage match between Young Africans and JS Kabylie in early February, followed by a Coupe de la CAF quarter-final featuring Al-Masry and CR Belouizdad in mid-March.

Reflecting on the controversial CAN final in Rabat

The reputation of Ndala is closely linked to the CAN 2025 final held in Rabat. During that match, he notably disallowed a goal for Sénégal after blowing his whistle for a foul before the play ended, which prevented any VAR intervention. Shortly after, a penalty was awarded to Maroc following a video review for a challenge on Brahim Díaz.

These calls sparked an immediate outcry from the Sénégal bench, leading players to walk off the pitch for several minutes in a tense protest. Although the game eventually resumed and Sénégal secured a 1-0 victory after extra time, the administrative outcome changed later. In March 2026, CAF officially granted Maroc a 3-0 win, ruling that the temporary walk-off by the Sénégal squad violated competition regulations.

Continued institutional support despite public outcry

Regardless of the past friction, CAF maintains its reliance on the Congolese referee for the continent’s premier football events. Under the International Football Association Board (IFAB) guidelines, on-field decisions made by the referee are considered final, which restricts the scope for sporting appeals. The first chapter of this Ligue des champions final will unfold on May 17 in Pretoria, with the decisive second leg following on May 24 in Rabat.