CAF General Secretary resigns as AFCON 2025 controversies refuse to end

Africa, Sports

SPORTS, 30 March 2026 (NPA) — The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Veron Mosengo‑Omba, has resigned during a turbulent period for African football.

In a statement on Sunday, Mosengo‑Omba said he was retiring, but his departure comes amid controversy over CAF’s decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and postpone the women’s tournament at the last minute. These incidents have left CAF battling a crisis of confidence.

“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind, leaving CAF more prosperous than ever,” wrote Mosengo‑Omba, deputy to CAF president Patrice Motsepe.

The 66‑year‑old, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo and also holds Swiss nationality, was appointed in March 2021. He faced criticism for staying on past CAF’s mandatory retirement age of 63 and was accused of creating a toxic workplace, though an investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, CAF’s Appeals Board has declared Morocco the winner of AFCON 2025 after Senegal staged a walkout during the final. Applying Articles 82 and 84 of the regulations, CAF ruled Senegal forfeited the match, recording a 3–0 victory for Morocco. Several fines against Morocco were reduced, but disciplinary sanctions were upheld in part.

Senegal has rejected the ruling, calling it unfair and unprecedented. In a statement on March 17, the Senegalese Football Federation announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, pledging to defend its rights and the integrity of Senegalese football.