The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially cleared referee Jean-Jacques Ndala of any wrongdoing following a thorough investigation into his officiating during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.
In a statement released on Friday, CAF confirmed that no evidence of misconduct was found after an extensive review of the match and related reports.
The football body described Ndala’s performance as professional and credible, dismissing allegations and criticisms that emerged in the aftermath of the final.
CAF further recalled that Ndala was in charge of the AFCON 2025 final, a highly dramatic encounter that generated widespread debate.
Tensions peaked when a Senegalese goal was disallowed, before a penalty was awarded to Morocco moments later.
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The decision sparked angry reactions from Senegal players, who briefly walked off the pitch in protest.
Morocco, however, failed to capitalize on the opportunity, as Brahim Díaz attempted a Panenka-style penalty that was calmly saved by the Senegalese goalkeeper.
The match later went into extra time, where Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal to hand Senegal victory and secure the AFCON title for the Teranga Lions.
CAF emphasized that all key incidents were carefully reviewed and maintained that the referee’s decisions were in line with the laws of the game, reaffirming its confidence in the officiating team and its commitment to fairness and integrity in African football.