FIFA has removed referee Jean-Jacques Ndala from the list of officials for the 2026 World Cup, a bombshell decision that highlights his role in the explosive crisis surrounding the 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal. This decision, issued on Thursday, directly sanctions the controversial handling of the match by the Congolese referee, while Senegal is still contesting its forfeiture at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On January 10, 2025, Senegal’s “Lions of Teranga” defeated Morocco’s “Atlas Lions” 1–0 in the final held in Morocco. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result on appeal: Senegal was declared to have lost by forfeit for temporarily leaving the pitch, awarding the title to Morocco. Referee Ndala has been at the center of criticism: he did not blow the final whistle when the Senegalese players went to the locker room and did not issue any yellow cards upon their return—clear errors according to observers.
FIFA takes a firm stance
By striking Ndala off the list of referees for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—a major tournament attended by Gianni Infantino—FIFA is expressing a strong disagreement with the officiating of this final. This punitive exclusion, the first of its kind in this case, suggests that the global governing body considers Ndala’s management unacceptable, potentially influenced by serious incidents such as Senegal’s refusal to play.
The crisis continues to deepen: the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has denounced CAF’s decision as “unprecedented and unacceptable,” taking the case to CAS in an attempt to reclaim the title won on the pitch. Morocco, through the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has welcomed the continental ruling and is threatening to appeal to FIFA if necessary, citing Articles 6 and 16 of its disciplinary code concerning serious incidents and damage to the image of world football. The presidents of FIFA and CAF have condemned the events and promised sanctions.
FIFA’s intervention has reignited institutional tensions within CAF, already shaken by the resignation of its Secretary General and vague promises of reform following the scandal. CAS, the supreme legal authority, will make the final ruling, but African football remains divided: Morocco’s sporting legitimacy is under scrutiny, Senegal is frustrated, and a shadow looms over future AFCON tournaments. The matter now lies in the hands of legal experts, with FIFA closely monitoring the situation.