CAF Resolves Controversy Over Champions League Final Crew and Sticks with Referee Ndala
The referees committee of the Confederation of African Football has made its final decision regarding the officiating team assigned to manage the first leg of the CAF Champions League final. On Saturday morning, it sent an official letter to the clubs AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns, confirming the retention of Congolese referee Jean Jacques Ndala to lead the anticipated match in Pretoria next Sunday.
The referees' committee made the decision following official objections submitted by the two clubs in recent days, protesting the appointment of Ndala to officiate the final match amidst the controversy surrounding the selection of the refereeing team.
The committee emphasized in its correspondence that changing the crew at this time is complicated due to the short period before the match. It stressed its full confidence in the abilities of the Congolese referee and his team to successfully manage and conduct the match well.
The committee also clarified that it studied the file submitted by the Royal Army Club, along with various data related to the objection, before concluding that there were not sufficient reasons to warrant changing the officially approved refereeing team.
Consistent sources revealed that the corridors of "CAF" have witnessed intense discussions in recent days, after some members of the executive committee attempted to propose names of referees nominated to officiate World Cup matches. However, the referees committee insisted on its choice and refused to make any changes.
Under the final decision, Jean-Jacques Ndala will lead the match as the field referee, assisted by Joël Bongielli as the first assistant, and Mwania Gradel Mbelzi as the second assistant, while the role of the fourth referee has been assigned to Jessia Misia Nokonko.
In the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, Sudanese referee Ahmed Abdel Aziz will lead the team, assisted by Libyan Ahmed Al-Shalmani, along with Zambian referee Diana Chikotesha as a video assistant referee.
The referees' committee made the decision following official objections submitted by the two clubs in recent days, protesting the appointment of Ndala to officiate the final match amidst the controversy surrounding the selection of the refereeing team.
The committee emphasized in its correspondence that changing the crew at this time is complicated due to the short period before the match. It stressed its full confidence in the abilities of the Congolese referee and his team to successfully manage and conduct the match well.
The committee also clarified that it studied the file submitted by the Royal Army Club, along with various data related to the objection, before concluding that there were not sufficient reasons to warrant changing the officially approved refereeing team.
Consistent sources revealed that the corridors of "CAF" have witnessed intense discussions in recent days, after some members of the executive committee attempted to propose names of referees nominated to officiate World Cup matches. However, the referees committee insisted on its choice and refused to make any changes.
Under the final decision, Jean-Jacques Ndala will lead the match as the field referee, assisted by Joël Bongielli as the first assistant, and Mwania Gradel Mbelzi as the second assistant, while the role of the fourth referee has been assigned to Jessia Misia Nokonko.
In the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, Sudanese referee Ahmed Abdel Aziz will lead the team, assisted by Libyan Ahmed Al-Shalmani, along with Zambian referee Diana Chikotesha as a video assistant referee.
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