Sports
CAF Appoints Ndala for Champions League Final First Leg
Controversial AFCON final referee to oversee clash between FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns
- Jean-Jacques Ndala selected to officiate the first leg of the 2026 final in Pretoria.
- Appointment comes despite criticism following the 2025 AFCON final.
- Omar Artan to handle the second leg in Rabat on May 24.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to officiate the first leg of the 2026 CAF Champions League final.
Ndala will oversee the opening clash between Morocco’s FAR Rabat and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria.
The referee faced significant criticism after his performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, a match that sparked widespread debate. Despite that controversy, he remains among CAF’s top-rated officials and continues to handle high-profile fixtures across the continent.
CAF has also named Somali referee Omar Artan to officiate the second leg of the final, set to take place on May 24 in Rabat, Morocco.
