Former French international referee Bruno Derrien has questioned the suitability of Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala to handle the Africa Cup of Nations final, accusing him of lacking the authority required for such a high-stakes fixture.
The 2025 AFCON final, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, saw hosts Morocco face defending champions Senegal in a tense and emotionally charged contest.
After a cautious, scoreless first half, Senegal appeared to take the lead, only for the goal to be ruled out after Ndala whistled for a foul when Achraf Hakimi went to ground.
Speaking to AFP, Derrien argued that the decision was premature, insisting the contact was minimal.
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“I think he blows the whistle too quickly. If he had let play continue without sanctioning that foul, the goal would probably have been checked by VAR and likely validated,” Derrien added.
Controversy deepened later in the match when Senegal defender El Hadji Malick Diouf was judged to have pulled Brahim Díaz around the neck during a corner kick. After consulting VAR, Ndala awarded a penalty to Morocco — a decision Derrien described as highly debatable.
According to the former referee, the penalty stemmed from a “micro-foul” at a moment when tension in the closely fought final was already at its peak.
Ndala was immediately surrounded by players and officials from both teams as Moroccan fans voiced their displeasure with loud whistles while he made his way to the pitch-side monitor. The ruling sparked outrage among Senegal’s players, some of whom left the field in protest, causing a delay of nearly 20 minutes.
Derrien also criticised Ndala for what he described as an overly passive approach during the chaotic scenes, noting that the Laws of the Game require referees to caution players who delay the restart of play or leave the field without permission. Strict enforcement, he argued, could have resulted in the dismissal of several Senegal players already on yellow cards.
In the aftermath, FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned what he termed the conduct of some supporters as well as Senegalese players and members of the technical staff. He urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take “appropriate measures” in response to the incidents surrounding the final.