Caf General Secretary Resigns Amid Afcon Final Controversy

Veron Mosengo-Omba, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) general secretary, has announced his retirement as the organization contends with growing uncertainty in the football world. His departure follows a series of decisions that sparked widespread debate, including the removal of Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and the abrupt postponement of the women’s tournament. These actions have fueled doubts about Caf’s leadership and triggered a crisis in public trust.

Mosengo-Omba, who serves as the deputy to Caf president Patrice Motsepe, addressed the situation in a statement on Sunday. In it, he referenced the challenges he faced during his tenure. “Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever,” he wrote, according to the

statement

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The 66-year-old has drawn criticism for remaining in his role past Caf’s mandatory retirement age of 63. Some employees also accused him of fostering a toxic workplace environment, though an investigation into these claims cleared him of any wrongdoing. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and holding Swiss citizenship, Mosengo-Omba was appointed general secretary in March 2021.

Reuters reported that Samson Adamu, Caf’s competitions director, will assume the acting role following Mosengo-Omba’s exit. The organization is awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Senegal’s appeal against losing the Afcon title. Senegal disputes Caf’s decision to overturn their 1-0 victory over Morocco in the January final, which was contested after players left the field during a stoppage-time penalty in the 90th minute. After a 17-minute delay, Morocco missed the spot-kick, and Senegal secured a last-minute extra-time win.

The Moroccan Football Association (FRMF) filed an appeal, leading Caf to rule that Senegal had forfeited the match. This decision has intensified tensions, with Senegal challenging the ruling through the sports arbitration body. The outcome of this case will likely shape the future of Caf’s credibility in the region.

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