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Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing internal tension after appointing Congolese referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the Champions League final between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s AS FAR.
The match is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria.
Both Sundowns and AS FAR submitted official complaints to CAF on Monday morning, expressing concern over the choice of referee.
Sources inside the organization confirmed to Moroccan news outlet El Botola that the clubs questioned Ndala’s appointment, citing his controversial role in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal.
That match ended in chaos and remains under review at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The clubs argued that assigning Ndala to such a high‑profile fixture risks undermining confidence in the competition, given the unresolved debate surrounding his officiating in Rabat.
Refereeing team announced
CAF’s refereeing committee had confirmed the officiating team on Sunday. Ndala will be assisted by compatriots Juilien Ngila and Gradiel Munia, with Jesse Moise acting as fourth official.
Sudanese referee Ahmed Abdelaziz will handle VAR, supported by Libya’s Ahmed Shelmani and Zambia’s Diana Chikotscha.
Match supervision will involve officials from Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Seychelles, DR Congo, and Senegal, covering areas from refereeing assessment to security oversight.
CAF also confirmed that the first leg will be played on Sunday, May 17, instead of the original date of Friday, May 15.
The change came after Sundowns requested a 48‑hour delay due to logistical difficulties. Kick‑off is set for 14:00 GMT (15:00 in Morocco).
The adjustment had been anticipated, with sources inside CAF indicating last week that a rescheduling was under discussion.
