Caf General Secretary Steps Down Amid Controversial Afcon Events

Sun Mar 29 2026 16:59:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Veron Mosengo-Omba resigns from his position during a turbulent period for African football, including the controversial overturning of Senegal's Afcon title.

The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Veron Mosengo-Omba, has announced his resignation, citing retirement during challenging times for African football. His departure follows controversies surrounding Senegal's title being stripped and last-minute postponement of the women's tournament. Mosengo-Omba emphasized that he leaves with a clear conscience, despite criticisms and investigations during his tenure. The body now faces a crisis of trust, with interim leadership stepping in as it awaits a court decision on recent rulings.

Caf General Secretary Steps Down Amid Controversial Afcon Events

Veron Mosengo-Omba, the general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), has resigned during a chaotic period for football on the continent. In his statement, he expressed that he was retiring, but his departure coincides with the fallout from significant controversies, including decisions to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and the postponement of the women's tournament at the last moment.

These incidents have left Caf fighting a crisis of confidence. Mosengo-Omba alluded to the controversies he faced during his tenure, stating, 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. Notably, he was criticized for remaining in the role beyond the organization's mandatory retirement age.

After receiving complaints from staff that led to an investigation, he was cleared of creating a toxic work environment. Mosengo-Omba, a dual citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Switzerland, was appointed as general secretary in March 2021.

Following his departure, Caf's competitions director, Samson Adamu, will take over as acting general secretary. The organization awaits a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) regarding Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the Afcon title, a decision that granted Morocco a 3-0 victory due to an overturned match result after Senegal protested a penalty awarded during the final.