The referees committee of the Confederation of African Football has turned down a complaint from AS FAR over the appointment of Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala for the first leg of the CAF Champions League final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
CAF said the refereeing team will stay as planned. It described Ndala as an experienced official trusted for big matches, and backed his assistants as well.
AS FAR had asked for a change, saying they were worried about fairness in such an important game.
Their main concern goes back to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, where Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions. The club says that match was badly handled and raises doubts about how Ndala manages high pressure situations.
AS FAR also pointed out that Ndala was not selected for the FIFA World Cup 2026 referees list. They see that as a sign of reduced confidence in him at the highest level.
The club also questioned the balance of officials for the two legs of the final. The first match in Pretoria on 17 May will have officials mostly from one national group, while the second leg will use a more mixed team.
CAF has now confirmed the appointment, and said Ndala will go ahead as referee for the first leg.
