Caf General Secretary Resigns Following Afcon Final Controversy

The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has stepped down during a tumultuous period for the sport in Africa.

Resignation Details

Veron Mosengo-Omba announced his retirement amid the ongoing fallout from the decision to revoke Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) hosting rights and the last-minute postponement of the women’s tournament. These events have created a significant crisis of confidence for Caf, which oversees football governance on the continent.

Mosengo-Omba’s statement referenced controversies that marked his time in office. “Having cleared the doubts cast upon me by some, I can retire peacefully, believing that I leave Caf in a stronger position than before,” he declared, having served as deputy to Caf president Patrice Motsepe.

Age Controversies and Workplace Claims

The 66-year-old faced criticism for remaining in his role beyond Caf’s stipulated retirement age of 63. Additionally, he was accused by some colleagues of fostering a toxic work environment, although an investigation dismissed these claims as unfounded.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mosengo-Omba also holds Swiss nationality and took the role of general secretary in March 2021.

Transition of Leadership

According to reports, Caf’s competitions director, Samson Adamu, will temporarily step in as acting general secretary following Mosengo-Omba’s resignation.

The governing body is currently awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) regarding Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of the Afcon title. The Senegalese team is contesting the Caf decision that overturned their victory over the host nation, Morocco, in last month’s final.

Match Dispute Context

During the final match, Senegal’s players protested after Morocco was awarded a penalty in stoppage time while the score was tied at 0-0. After a lengthy delay, the penalty was missed, and Senegal later scored to win in extra time. However, following a complaint from the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.

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