Exclusive: CAF Holds Special Meeting to Discuss Changing Ndala's Appointment for Champions League Final First Leg Between AS FAR and Sundowns

Specialized committees within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are awaiting the outcomes of an anticipated meeting in the coming hours. The meeting will address the Referees Committee's position regarding the appointment of the Congolese officiating crew, led by Jean-Jacques Ndala, who was selected to manage the first leg match in Pretoria on May 17.

Sources within CAF indicate significant pressure to change the Congolese referee, amidst objections from several Executive Committee members. This comes in addition to a formal complaint submitted by both participating clubs earlier this week.

AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns had submitted a formal complaint to CAF on Monday, expressing reservations about the appointment of the officiating crew for the Champions League final first leg in South Africa. The clubs highlighted that the referee has been subject to doubts and was a primary cause of the Africa Cup of Nations final crisis between Morocco and Senegal, a case that remains under dispute at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as previously reported by "El Botola".

It is worth noting that CAF had scheduled the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR for Sunday, May 17, at 3:00 PM Moroccan time.