By Victor Enyinnaya on January 20, 2026

Just look at and imagine the kind of avoidable disorder Jean Jacques Ndala, a Congolese center referee of Sunday caused during January 18, final of the 2025 AFCON football summit whose curtain was drawn after a month long football exchanges from countries that qualified.

The disruption by referee Ndala at the tail and critical end of the regulation time of apex continental football festival, nearly created new bad toga for CAF in the name of trying to please and protect the host country, Morocco.

Let me say that Ndala was not alone in the culpritable act.  The entire CAF Referees Committee are partners in the crime. In sane clime, Chairman of CAF Referees Committee ought to have resigned shortly after that show of shame and lawlessness by Jean Jacques Ndala. By now, the news of whoever is presiding over CAF's Referees Committee resignation would have been all over the news waves and channels.

But in Africa, no way, rather he will sit tight. In fact, no consequences from the authorities. Ndala 's act under whatever guise would remain for long time the worst and dark spot on CAF's reputation in the 21st football summit officiating.

The allegation of CAF Referees Committee and host country conspiracy on officiating during the just concluded premium premier Africa's football tournament was all over the place before the game. Nigeria tasted the questionable match officiating during the semi final meet against Morocco from the Ghanaian referee. Other counties that played against Morocco in one stage or another also cried blue murder to the high heavens but it was instantly dismissed by CAF Referees Committee.

The climax was Sunday, January 18, final game against equally strong, well strategized; tactical disciplined, technically sound, productive and well prepared team in the Senegalese side.  Those antics implored by the Referees Committee for Morocco backfired and also exploded on their faces. It was a divined exposure, and icing on the cake was swift.

After his initial indiscriminate use of yellow cards on the Senegalese players when the fracas began failed to dissuade the highly protesting players of the Lions of Teranga, who held up the game for minutes plus even a walk off the field by some players of the West African country, however, normalcy later returned and the disputed penalty was taken and lost by one of the finest products of the host country's players, Mandy, the Senegalese safe gloves caught the ball. The jam packed Prince Moulay Abdullah Stadium erupted with near grave silence as home fans who supported their idol team, the Atlas Lions of Morocco got gummed to their seats in total confusion.

Before this writer would go into the next phase of the tension soaked epic explosive encounter, one would vividly note the crucial, reasonable,

and valuable role played by other  Senegalese players for the hostilities to stop. Pape Gueye who single handedly appealed to his teammates to come back to the pitch and continue with the game turned out also to become the hero of the grudge AFCON football final summit as he scored a brilliantly crafted goal beyond the agile Atlas Lions goal tender. His Steadfastness role paid off handsomely to his country, Senegal at last.

To this writer, he is a hero of the highly temperamental football showdown.

The showpiece, before the row blew open, there was steadily and progressively advancing displays the best and traditional African football at its best being set.

Ensuring also that the rich football culture of robust plays typical from the West African part was being propelled effectively, while their North African counterparts were never ready to give them an inch advance. Fans were routing solidly for the home lads as the ding- dong affair lingered on.

 Then enter... the Africa referee usual dangerous syndrome not worthy of their badge..

One could see their ugly  miscalculations, deadly and wrong agenda.  Whatever anybody does in the technology driven era, always remember that the World takes notice of your performance whether excellent or otherwise.

After such abysmal dismayed open air performance, the referee should not expect a call up for the World Cup. Some African referees are not worthy of their badge…

Just look at the kind of image the Congolese referee put, the Ghanaian referee between Nigeria and Morocco ranks amongst the best African continent can offer.

They are presented to the World governing body as the egg heads so far match officiating is concerned.

Head or tail, Jean Jacques Ndala was not alone.

The final game between Morocco and Senegal must be repositioned back to the front burner so as to thoroughly trash out the immediate and remote causes of that nonsense from Ndala if African football and her referees must be taken seriously by the outside World on FIFA organized championships. Nigerian referees have been adjudged as the most corrupt in the continent and so are not being used for either CAF or FIFA organized tournaments.  Now what will said of what happened in Morocco 2025 AFCON football championship?

Your guess may be as good as mine.

The lesson in the whole officiating scenario even at all levels of African football could safely be referred to as conspiracy theory by the entrenched cults of long standing in the system.

Nothing happens to them rather juicer matches awaits them.

Till next week, meanwhile we wait!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted January 20, 2026

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