The Confédération africaine de football has selected Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the Ligue des champions final. The high-stakes match between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, South Africa.
At 38 years old, the referee from the Congo remains a prominent figure in African football, famously having officiated the final between Sénégal and Maroc. Although his performance in that game drew significant criticism, the continental governing body has reaffirmed its faith in him by assigning him to major club fixtures throughout the season.
Match details confirmed for Pretoria
Ndala will be the man in the middle at the Loftus Versfeld stadium, the home ground of the Sundowns. This opening leg precedes the return match, which is set to take place in Maroc the following week. Since the 2025 CAN, he has remained active on the international stage, handling matches like the group stage clash between Young Africans and JS Kabylie in February, as well as a quarter-final of the CAF Cup between Al-Masry and CR Belouizdad in March.
A look back at the controversial CAN final
The official’s reputation is closely tied to the 2025 CAN final held in Rabat. During that match, he voided a goal for Sénégal by blowing the whistle for a foul before the play concluded, which effectively prevented a VAR review. Later, a penalty was awarded to Maroc following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Díaz.
These calls sparked an immediate reaction from the Sénégal bench, with players leaving the pitch for several minutes in protest. While they eventually returned and won 1-0 in extra time, the sporting result was later overturned. In March 2026, the CAF granted a 3-0 victory to Maroc, ruling that the temporary abandonment of the pitch by the Sénégal squad constituted a violation of tournament regulations.
Continued trust from CAF despite external pressure
Despite the backlash from previous tournaments, the CAF continues to rely on the Congolese referee for the continent’s premier events. Under International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulations, the referee’s on-field choices are considered final, which limits the scope for legal or sporting challenges. The first leg of this continental final kicks off on May 17 in Pretoria, with the deciding match following on May 24 in Rabat.
