FIFA has reportedly removed Congolese referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala, from its officiating roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, months after his role in the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal.

Ndala’s omission is widely linked to his handling of the chaotic AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, which sparked intense debate across African football. The match was overshadowed by disputed officiating decisions and a temporary walk-off by Senegalese players.

During the game, Ndala was criticised for failing to properly enforce regulations following Senegal’s withdrawal from the pitch. He did not formally end the match at the time of the walk-off and reportedly refrained from issuing disciplinary warnings when players returned, actions said to have followed guidance from CAF referees committee chairman Olivier Safari.

The situation escalated in the weeks that followed, with the result eventually overturned, intensifying scrutiny on the officiating performance.

Despite the backlash, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) cleared Ndala of any professional wrongdoing and continued to appoint him to matches.

However, FIFA has taken a contrasting stance. His exclusion from the final list of World Cup referees signals a decisive move by the global governing body and effectively ends his chances of officiating at the tournament.

The AFCON 2025 final, attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe, had already carried significant global attention, making the fallout even more consequential.

His removal from the World Cup officiating pool highlights FIFA’s stricter regulatory stance and underscores the lasting impact of one of the most contentious matches in recent African football history. (BusinessDay)