In brief
Veron Mosengo-Omba has resigned as the General Secretary of CAF during a tumultuous period for African football. His departure comes in the wake of decisions that stripped Senegal of the AFCON title and led to the last-minute postponement of the women's tournament. While Mosengo-Omba claims peace of mind in his retirement, he faced criticism and accusations of creating a toxic work environment, albeit cleared by investigations. Samson Adamu, CAF's competitions director, will serve as acting general secretary while the organization awaits a crucial decision from CAS regarding the AFCON title reversal.
The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Veron Mosengo-Omba, has announced his resignation during a particularly chaotic phase for football on the continent. Mosengo-Omba stated in his resignation announcement that he is retiring, but his exit occurs amid the fallout over major decisions impacting Senegal’s status in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the last-minute postponement of the women’s tournament.
These events have unrest within CAF, raising skepticism about its leadership’s ability to manage such crises effectively. In his retirement statement, Mosengo-Omba referred to his challenges during his time with CAF, saying, 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. This remark underscores the contentious environment surrounding his role as deputy to CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
Mosengo-Omba, aged 66, faced backlash for serving beyond the organization’s mandatory retirement age of 63 and had been accused by some employees of fostering a toxic workplace atmosphere. However, an investigation exonerated him of any serious wrongdoing.
He was appointed general secretary in March 2021 and has since been navigating through various disputes, which now culminate with his departure. Following his resignation, the CAF's competitions director, Samson Adamu, will step in as acting general secretary.
The controversy regarding Senegal's status as AFCON titleholders is compounded by an appeal pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Senegal's football federation is contesting a CAF decision to overturn their victory against Morocco in the recent AFCON final, a match shrouded in protests from the Senegalese players over officiating decisions.
In a game that saw Senegal initially leading 1-0 before they were controversially declared to have forfeited, CAF ruled Morocco the winners with a score of 3-0. This ruling adds to the mounting tensions surrounding the organization as it seeks to restore confidence and stability within its leadership and governance.
