By Our Correspondent

National News – FIFA has excluded Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, who officiated the 2025 AFCON final, from the list of match officials selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The decision follows controversy around the AFCON final in Morocco, where protests disrupted proceedings.

The development raises questions about selection criteria, officiating standards, and accountability in African refereeing at global tournaments.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) released its 2026 World Cup refereeing list on April 10, 2026, naming seven centre referees, 10 assistant referees, and two VAR officials from Africa.

The list, announced in Lagos-relevant coverage across global sports media, confirms the omission of Ndala, Issa Sy of Senegal, and Boubou Traoré of Mali.

Other notable African officials selected include referees from Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Morocco, Mauritania, South Africa, Cameroon, Angola, and Somalia, reflecting FIFA’s expanded 48-team World Cup structure hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Experienced Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal leads the group, having officiated at previous AFCON tournaments, while Somalia’s Omar Artan will make his World Cup debut.

The selection highlights regional balance but also intensifies debate over recent AFCON officiating controversies that influenced final assessments.

FIFA is expected to publish further officiating updates ahead of the tournament.