CAF CL: The appointment of Jean-Jacques Ndala triggers disagreement

After the scandal of the final of the last AFCON 2025, CAF did not make any major changes. Touched by the age limit and pushed by FIFA to regain the presidency of the Congolese Football Federation in Kinshasa, the secretary general, Véron Mosengo Omba, was able to leave as he wished. Apart from him, nothing else, as if his only departure would change a faltering system.

To symbolize this inaction, the appointment of Jean-Jacques Ndala, the referee of the famous final Morocco – Senegal, to officiate in the final of the Champions League has caused misunderstanding within the entire confederation, mainly within the Executive Committee.

Tense exchanges in the WhatsApp group
Holding a WhatsApp group, the Comex began to protest the appointment, mainly Samuel Eto'o, Faizal Sidat (the president of the Mozambique federation). Very silent for years, Augustin Senghor also showed his dissatisfaction, a position he has maintained since the last final of the AFCON.

Even Idriss Diallo (Côte d'Ivoire), usually reserved, stepped up to the plate, a sign of palpable tension. Several members even called for "immediate change."

Some people wonder how the CAF was able to appoint Ndala when FIFA had just not selected him for the next World Cup. Nevertheless, is this really a surprise when Olivier Safari, the head of the arbitration commission admitted to having interfered during Morocco – Senegal by asking the Congolese arbitrator not to respect the rules (especially for the yellow cards to the Senegalese players who left the field), is still in place?

If this new case further raises issues of credibility, it shows above all one thing: the promised change is still not for today.