The appointment of Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to officiate the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR, scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, has sparked widespread anger within African football circles, while the Confederation of African Football remains steadfast in its refereeing choices.

According to media reports from "Sport News Africa" and "The Guardian," several officials from the Confederation of African Football expressed their dissatisfaction with this appointment, including prominent football federation presidents such as Samuel Eto'o and Idriss Diallo, along with Augustin Senghor, the former president of the Senegalese Football Federation.

The same reports indicated that some parties within CAF described this appointment as controversial, especially in light of previous concerns raised about the referee's performance in major matches, which intensified the criticism directed at him within the continent.

In a related context, media reports revealed reservations from both finalists, with both Sundowns and the Royal Army expressing objections to the appointment, calling for a review and replacement of the refereeing team, while some voices within the executive committee supported these demands.

The Guardian newspaper quoted a member of the executive committee as saying that "the appointment of Ndala is unacceptable," considering that there is a need to take strict measures regarding his refereeing performance in previous matches, adding that his continued appointment could harm the image of African football.

These developments come amid ongoing debate over refereeing choices in continental competitions, with increasing calls to ensure the highest levels of transparency and avoid decisions that may cause division within the African football community.