The secretary-general of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mr Véron Mosengo-Omba, has resigned, adding to questions about the administration of the continent’s football.
Mr 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 scribe, well past the organisation’s mandatory retirement age of 63.
“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,” Mr 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.”
The 66-year-old Congolese-born executive has faced a number of scandals while on the job, including being accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere in the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.
CAF said on Sunday that its competitions director, Mr Samson Adamu, would take over as acting general secretary.
Mr Mosengo-Omba is reportedly expected to run for the post of president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s football federation in elections in the coming months. He is also touted to be aiming for the CAF presidency if current helmsman, Mr Patrice Motsepe, fulfils a rumoured ambition of running for the South African presidency after the tenure of Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.
CAF has faced scrutiny over the years, the latest being around the Appeals board decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title. Senegal’s government has called for an international investigation into the running of the organisation.
On Saturday, Senegal paraded the trophy before going on to beat Peru 2-0 in their World Cup warm-up game at the Stade de France in Paris.