The Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s general secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, resigned on Sunday after repeated calls for his removal and at a turbulent time for the game on the continent.
Mosengo-Omba said he was retiring, but his departure comes amid a crisis of confidence in the organisation’s leadership, with a growing fallout over the decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and calls for an investigation into alleged corruption at African football’s governing body.
There has been a swell of recent criticism of his staying on as general secretary well past the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 63, largely on social media but also from members of CAF’s executive committee.
“After over 30 years of an international professional career dedicated to promoting an ideal form of football that brings people together, educates, and creates opportunities for hope, I have decided to step down from my position as Secretary General of CAF to devote myself to more personal projects,” Mosengo-Omba said in a statement.
“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.
“I sincerely thank the CAF’s President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, my teams, and all those who, directly or indirectly, have enabled CAF and organised African football to make real and remarkable progress. Let us hope that the progress made will last and be sustained,” he concluded.
Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) President Dr Patrice Motsepe expressed his and CAF’s gratitude to outgoing General Secretary,Véron Mosengo-Ombawho has left the role after over five successful years.
Mosengo-Omba will be replaced on an interim basis by Samson Adamu, while the process to appoint a permanent General Secretary is undertaken.
Dr Motsepe told the media during a press conference: “We are enormously grateful to Véron for his contribution to African Football and the work he has done for the development and growth of the game on the continent. We will, at a later stage, give Véron proper recognition and have an occasion where we will express our gratitude to him and to his family.”
Accused of creating toxic atmosphere
Mosengo-Omba has been a divisive figure at CAF, accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere at the workplace, although an investigation conducted after the staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.
The 66-year-old is of Congolese origin, but he is a Swiss citizen and former FIFA employee who was a university friend of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Although he said he was retiring, Mosengo-Omba is expected to run for the post of president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s football federation in elections in the coming months, sources told the Reuters news agency.
If successful, that would thrust him into contention for CAF’s top job should Motsepe resign to enter politics in his native South Africa, where he is being touted as a possible successor to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Motsepe has, however, denied this.
Earlier this month, Motsepe admitted that CAF was struggling with questions over its integrity and, in the wake of the Cup of Nations final controversy, Senegal’s government has called for an international investigation into the running of the organisation.
Just last month, president Patrice Motsepe refused to clarify the retirement of Veron Mosengo-Omba (pictured).
CAF’s number two, and leader of the confederation’s executive function, had been accused of overstaying his allowable term in the role, but, at a news conference in Dar Es Salaam, Motsepe avoided specifics saying: “The retirement is governed by our rules and regulations. We deal with those things not just in accordance with legality but governance. As CAF, we will take the best decision concerning employees.”
Under Regulation 130 of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Employment Handbook, which governs staff, 63 is the compulsory retirement age. The regulation states that the president or the secretary general may extend the employee’s employment for a maximum of three years.
Mosengo-Omba became CAF general secretary in 2021 when he was 61. Born on the 15th of October 1959, he turned 66 last October. Even under the extension, Mosengo-Omba can no longer serve as general secretary of CAF.
Motsepe added: “In many companies – when you reach retirement age – the leadership can extend it on a year-on-year basis or they can decide to find someone body else. We will deal with that in accordance with governance – global best practices.”
It’s not the first time that controversy surrounds Mosengo-Omba, who has close ties world governing body FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino. Last year, the Swiss prosecutor dropped an investigation into the CAF general secretary over allegations of dishonest management, fraud and forgery of documents. He also faced a CAF internal investigation.
