CAF Power Shake-Up: Top Official Quits Amid AFCON Scandal and Corruption Storm
African football has been thrown into fresh chaos after the Confederation of African Football’s top administrator, Veron Mossengo-Omba, suddenly stepped down on Sunday – right in the middle of mounting pressure and controversy rocking the sport across the continent.
Although he described his exit as a personal decision to retire, insiders say the timing tells a different story. His departure follows intense backlash over CAF’s shocking move to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations title, a decision that has sparked outrage, deepened distrust, and triggered loud calls for a corruption probe within the organisation.
For months, criticism had been building. Many questioned why Mossengo-Omba remained in office beyond CAF’s official retirement age, with discontent spilling from social media into the executive ranks of the body.
In his farewell statement, he painted a picture of fulfilment, saying he was stepping away after decades of promoting football as a unifying force. He also claimed to be leaving with a “clear conscience,” insisting he had overcome allegations aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
But behind the scenes, the story appears far more complicated.
CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, later revealed that Mossengo-Omba had been tapped by the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo to support football development back home – hinting that this may be less of a retirement and more of a strategic exit.
Sources suggest he could soon contest for the presidency of DR Congo’s football federation, a move that may eventually position him for an even bigger comeback within CAF’s top leadership.
Mossengo-Omba’s tenure has long divided opinion. While he was cleared of wrongdoing after internal complaints, some staff had accused him of fostering a toxic work environment. His close ties to Gianni Infantino also kept him firmly in the spotlight.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the AFCON controversy continues to spread. The Senegalese government has now demanded an international investigation into CAF’s decision-making process, as questions over transparency and integrity refuse to die down.
In the interim, CAF has named Samson Adamu as acting general secretary, but with trust shaken and pressure mounting, African football’s governing body faces an uncertain road ahead.
