CAF General Secretary Mosengo-Omba Resigns Amid Growing Controversy

The General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, Veron Mosengo-Omba, has stepped down during a turbulent period for African football.

Although he described his exit as a retirement, the decision follows mounting controversy, including the stripping of Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and the abrupt postponement of the women’s tournament.

In a statement released Sunday, Mosengo-Omba referenced challenges faced during his tenure, stating he was leaving with a clear conscience after addressing allegations made against him. He also expressed confidence in the progress made by CAF under his leadership.

The 66-year-old, who served as deputy to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, had faced criticism for remaining in his role beyond the organisation’s official retirement age of 63. Additionally, some staff had accused him of fostering a difficult work environment, though an internal investigation ultimately cleared him of wrongdoing.

Mosengo-Omba, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and also a Swiss national, was appointed to the position in March 2021.

Reports indicate that CAF’s competitions director, Samson Adamu, will serve as acting General Secretary.

Meanwhile, CAF is awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding Senegal’s appeal over the controversial Afcon final decision.

The dispute stems from Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco, which was later overturned after Morocco successfully appealed. CAF ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match following a protest during play, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win instead.

These developments have intensified scrutiny on CAF, raising concerns about governance and decision-making within African football’s top body.