Ndala failed to blow the final whistle despite Senegal players staging a walk-off during the AFCON final in Morocco.
By Kehinde Okeowo
World football’s governing body, FIFA, has excluded Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala from the list of officials selected for the 2026 World Cup.
Ndala, who took charge of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Morocco and Senegal, has faced significant backlash since the conclusion of the tournament.
The AFCON final descended into chaos and controversy after the Congolese official failed to blow the final whistle, even as Senegal’s players staged a walk-off.
Furthermore, he refused to issue any cards to the players, coaching staff, or Senegalese officials when they eventually returned to the pitch.
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The Teranga Lions went on to win the encounter 1-0 in Rabat and were initially declared winners of the continental competition.
However, Ndala became the immediate subject of intense criticism regarding his officiating.
In a dramatic turn of events, the African football governing body, CAF, subsequently stripped Senegal of the title. The West African nation has since taken its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In what appears to be a clear punitive move, FIFA has now dropped Ndala from the roster of referees for the upcoming World Cup.
