The Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala has been chosen by the Confédération africaine de football to oversee the first leg of the Ligue des champions final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR. The high-stakes match is set to take place on May 17 in Pretoria, South Africa.
At 38 years old, the Congolese official is frequently remembered for his role in the previous Africa Cup of Nations final between Sénégal and Maroc. Despite the wave of disapproval following that performance, the continental governing body has reaffirmed its trust in him, as shown by his frequent appointments in major club tournaments.
Official selection for the Pretoria showdown
CAF has confirmed that Jean-Jacques Ndala will be the man in the middle for the opening leg of this double-header. The game will be hosted at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, the home turf of the Sundowns. The return leg is scheduled to be held in Maroc one week later.
Since the 2025 AFCON, the referee has remained a top choice for significant fixtures. His recent portfolio includes a group stage clash between Young Africans and JS Kabylie on February 5, followed by a CAF Cup quarter-final match featuring Al-Masry and CR Belouizdad on March 14.
Memories of a controversial AFCON final
The name Ndala is inextricably linked to the AFCON 2025 final held in Rabat. During that specific match, he disallowed a goal for Sénégal after blowing his whistle for a foul before the play ended, which effectively 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. In an act of defiance, the players exited the field for several minutes, causing a temporary halt to the game. Although play eventually resumed and Sénégal secured a 1-0 victory after extra time, the administrative outcome was later changed. In March 2026, CAF officially handed a 3-0 win to Maroc, ruling that the temporary walk-off by the Senegalese squad was a breach of tournament regulations.
Continued support from CAF despite past disputes
Regardless of the previous friction, CAF continues to place the Congolese referee in charge of the continent’s most prestigious matches. Under the guidelines of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the decisions made by a referee during a game are final, which restricts the ability to challenge results on sporting grounds. The first leg of the Champions League final will kick off on May 17 in Pretoria, with the decisive second leg following on May 24 in Rabat.
