• FOOTBALL

• Frank Rotich 1 hr ago

AFCON 2025 Final referee Ndala in more controversy as AS FAR reject his appointment for CAF Champions League final

The Confederation of African Football is facing fresh pressure after Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat rejected the appointment of referee Jean-Jacques Ndala ahead of the CAF Champions League final.

AS FAR has officially complained to CAF, asking for Ndala to be removed from their first-leg clash against Mamelodi Sundowns. The match is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, but attention has now shifted away from football to the controversy surrounding the referee.

The Moroccan side says it has serious concerns about Ndala’s fairness and recent performances. They believe he should not handle such an important match.

This is the second referee dispute involving the final. Earlier, Sundowns had objected to Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar, who was initially appointed, citing possible regional bias. CAF then replaced him with Ndala.

However, AS FAR is not convinced by the change.

The club’s concerns are linked to Ndala’s performance during the AFCON 2025 Final. They pointed to an incident where Senegal players reportedly left the pitch on their coach’s instructions without facing punishment, raising questions about the referee’s consistency.

AS FAR also noted that Ndala was not selected by FIFA for the upcoming World Cup, which they believe reflects his current standing in international officiating.

Despite the complaint, CAF is said to be standing by its decision, showing confidence in Ndala. But with both finalists having raised issues over referees, pressure is mounting on the governing body to make the right call.

CAF must now decide whether to keep Ndala or appoint a third referee for the high-stakes final. The decision is expected to attract close attention from football fans across Africa.