A referee involved in the contentious 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final earlier this year has been selected to officiate the 2025 CAF Champions League final fixture later this month, drawing renewed attention to his role in one of African football’s most debated matches.
Jean-Jacques Ngambo Ndala, a match official from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will oversee the first leg of the African Champions League final between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s AS FAR. The match is scheduled to take place in Tshwane, also known as Pretoria, on 17 May.
Ndala’s appointment comes months after he officiated the dramatic Afcon final in January, where Senegal faced Morocco in Rabat. The match was overshadowed by a series of controversial decisions that led to Senegal’s team temporarily walking off the pitch in protest.
The dispute centred on a penalty awarded to Morocco following a VAR review. Senegal’s head coach, Pape Thiaw, along with several players, left the field for approximately 15 minutes in response to the decision. Tensions had already been heightened moments earlier when Ndala penalised a Senegal player for a push just before he headed the ball against the post. When Ismaïla Sarr subsequently scored from the rebound, the goal was ruled out.
Despite the disruptions, the match resumed and Morocco were ultimately defeated 1-0 after extra time. However, the outcome was later overturned by the Confederation of African Football (Caf), which awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory in March. Caf cited Senegal’s decision to leave the pitch as grounds for disciplinary action.
The governing body, which also organises the African Champions League, has not publicly commented on Ndala’s latest appointment. His selection for such a high-profile fixture nevertheless signals continued confidence in his officiating at the continental level.
Ndala’s international career has seen mixed recognition in recent months. While he was included among referees who travelled to the United States for last year’s Club World Cup, he was not named in the list of officials selected by FIFA for this summer’s World Cup.
The upcoming Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR is expected to attract significant attention, both for its sporting stakes and for the scrutiny likely to accompany Ndala’s performance.
The match represents a key moment in African club football, with both teams aiming to secure one of the continent’s most prestigious titles. However, Ndala’s involvement ensures that memories of January’s contentious Afcon final remain close to the surface as the game approaches.
