The global football governing body, FIFA, has dropped Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala from the list of officials for the 2026 World Cup following the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
Ndala, who officiated the tense final between Morocco national football team and Senegal national football team in Rabat, came under heavy scrutiny for his handling of the match, which ended 1-0 in favour of Senegal.
The encounter was marred by chaotic scenes, including a reported walk-off by Senegal players during the game. Despite the disruption, Ndala failed to immediately end the match and did not issue any yellow cards after the players returned to the pitch, decisions that sparked widespread criticism from fans and football stakeholders.
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In what is widely seen as a disciplinary action, FIFA has now excluded him from officiating at the 2026 World Cup.
The controversy also had wider consequences, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later stripped Senegal of the AFCON title.
However, the decision has been challenged, with the West African nation taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for final determination.
The incident has once again raised concerns about refereeing standards and accountability in major international football tournaments.
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