Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala has been left off FIFA’s list of officials for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The decision follows controversy in February’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, where Senegal players staged a walk-off protest over his officiating, forcing a temporary halt to play.
Ndala, once regarded among Africa’s most reliable referees, had been tipped for World Cup duty after handling the AFCON final.
Senegalese referee Issa Sy also missed out on selection, leaving African representation thinner than expected at the global tournament.
