CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba resigns

Veron Mosengo-Omba has resigned as general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ending a tenure marked by controversy, governance questions, and mounting internal pressure. The 66-year-old Swiss-Congolese official announced his departure on March 29, stating he was leaving to focus on personal projects. His resignation comes as African football’s governing body faces intense scrutiny after stripping Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and postponing the women’s tournament at the last minute.

Mosengo-Omba did not directly address the AFCON final controversy in his statement. Instead, he said, “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 CAF more prosperous than ever.” His exit follows weeks of growing criticism from within CAF’s executive committee and on social media, with calls for his removal intensifying after Senegal’s dramatic loss to Morocco in the 2025 AFCON final.

The final became a flashpoint when Senegal left the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Although the penalty was saved and Senegal initially won in extra time, CAF later stripped them of the title and declared Morocco champions. Senegal responded by parading the AFCON trophy ahead of their friendly against Peru in Paris and are currently appealing the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Mosengo-Omba’s departure also follows allegations from some staff about a toxic work environment under his leadership. An internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing in 2025, but questions about governance persisted throughout his term. Reports described an atmosphere marked by tension and limited oversight within CAF, with concerns about the concentration of power around the secretary general and the weakening of committee independence.

Age became another point of contention. CAF statutes set a retirement age of 63 for senior officials, with a possible extension of up to three years. Mosengo-Omba reached this limit in 2025 but remained in position, prompting further legal questions and fueling debate about transparency and institutional checks within African football’s top body.

CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe addressed Mosengo-Omba’s resignation at a news conference broadcast on the federation’s YouTube channel. Motsepe said Mosengo-Omba was stepping down “to help with football development within the Democratic Republic of Congo” following a request from President Felix Tshisekedi. He added, “We are enormously grateful to Veron for his contributions and the work he did for the development and growth of African football.”

The fallout from recent events has led CAF to announce sweeping changes to its statutes and regulations aimed at restoring faith in its referees, VAR operators, disciplinary board, and appeal board. In a statement released Sunday, CAF said these changes are intended “to strengthen trust and confidence… [and] ensure that the incidences that took place at the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 do not happen again.” Motsepe confirmed that extensive legal advice had been sought from African and international experts to align CAF’s practices with global football standards.

To fill the immediate leadership gap, competitions director Samson Adamu from Nigeria has been named acting general secretary. Motsepe expressed confidence in Adamu’s ability to guide CAF through this period while vice-presidents lead the search for a permanent replacement.

Amid these upheavals, Motsepe also announced plans to expand future AFCON tournaments from 24 to 28 teams, though details on implementation remain unclear. He reaffirmed that Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will host AFCON 2027 as scheduled.

Mosengo-Omba joined CAF in 2021 after years with FIFA and quickly became one of its most influential figures. His resignation closes a turbulent chapter for African football administration, marked by high-profile disputes over major competitions, ongoing debates over transparency and power structures within CAF, and persistent calls for reform.