Caf general secretary Mosengo-Omba resigns amid Afcon controversy

Veron Mosengo-Omba announced his retirement in a statement. Still, his exit comes as Caf faces mounting criticism following controversial decisions, including stripping Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and the late postponement of the women’s tournament.

These developments have shaken confidence in the organisation, which oversees football in Africa.

In his statement on Sunday, Mosengo-Omba referenced the challenges and disputes that marked his time in office.

He said he was leaving with a clear conscience after addressing allegations against him, adding that he believed he had strengthened the organisation during his tenure.

The 66-year-old, who served as deputy to Caf president Patrice Motsepe, had faced criticism for remaining in the role beyond the organisation’s official retirement age of 63.

He was also accused by some staff members of fostering a difficult working environment, although an internal investigation later cleared him of wrongdoing.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and also a Swiss national, Mosengo-Omba was appointed general secretary in March 2021.

Reports indicate that Caf’s competitions director, Samson Adamu, is expected to take over in an acting capacity.

Meanwhile, Caf is awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Senegal’s appeal after being stripped of their Afcon title. The dispute stems from the final against hosts Morocco in January.

During that match, Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty while the score was still goalless.

Play resumed after a delay of about 17 minutes, with Morocco missing the penalty before Senegal went on to score the winning goal in extra time.

However, following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, Caf later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory instead.