The whistle picker for the biggest game in African football has been confirmed, with Congo’s Jean Jacques Ndala handed the high pressure job of refereeing the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco this Sunday. The 7pm GMT showdown at Rabat’s Moulaye Abdallah Stadium will be under his command, after CAF made the official appointment this afternoon.
Ndala, a FIFA listed ref since 2013, is no stranger to the big occasion. This will be his fourth AFCON tournament since his debut in 2019, and he’s previously taken charge of World Cup qualifiers across the continent, as well as crunch ties in the CAF Champions League. But Sunday’s final is a different beast entirely, a volatile derby under the lights, with a trophy and continental bragging rights on the line.
He won’t be alone in the heat of it. Assisting him on the touchlines will be two fellow Congolese officials, Guylain Ngila and Mwanya Mbilizi. The fourth official duties falls to South Africa’s Tom Abongile, while the all important VAR booth will be manned by Gabon’s Pierre Ghislain Atcho, with Styven Moyo assisting. It’s a full African crew for the continent’s showpiece.
No doubt the appointment will be scrutinised by both camps. Morocco, the hosts, will have a wall of support in Rabat, and every decision against them will be met with a roar. Senegal, meanwhile, brings a physical, high energy game. Ndala’s experience in club competitions will be tested by the pace and passion of a North West African derby final. “He’s a good referee, we trust CAF’s choice,” was the brief line from a Senegal team source today, though privately, both sides will be studying his past matches sharpish.
The broader significance is clear. This isn’t just any final; it’s a rematch of recent qualifiers, packed with Europe based stars, and a chance for either nation to cement a modern dynasty. For Ndala, it’s the pinnacle of a long career. Get it right, and his name is remembered for all the right reasons. One controversial call, though, and he’ll be the story.
All that’s left now is to play the game. The stage in Rabat is set, the teams are ready, and the man in the middle has his instructions. Let’s hope the talking point after Sunday night is the football, not the officiating.
