African football faces another turning point. Veron Mosengo-Omba has stepped down as general secretary of the Confederation of African Football, leaving during one of the most turbulent periods in the organisation’s recent history. His exit comes as the fallout from the overturned 2025 AFCON final continues to ripple across the continent.
Mosengo-Omba’s departure feels less like a quiet retirement and more like a chapter closing under pressure. In his statement, he insisted he leaves “with peace of mind and without constraint,” claiming he had dispelled suspicions cast against him. Yet the timing tells a deeper story, one shaped by controversy, criticism, and a growing crisis of trust.
The 66-year-old, who took office in 2021, had already faced scrutiny for remaining in his role beyond CAF’s retirement age. There were also internal complaints about workplace culture, though investigations cleared him of wrongdoing. Still, perception matters in football governance, and CAF’s image has taken repeated hits in recent months.
The biggest storm remains the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. Senegal’s dramatic win over Morocco in Rabat was later overturned after CAF ruled that Senegal forfeited the match by walking off in protest. What unfolded on the pitch was chaos, but what followed off it has proven even more damaging.
That decision, which handed Morocco a 3-0 victory, has divided opinion across Africa. Senegal have taken their fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the case still hangs over the game like a cloud. For many fans, the uncertainty has blurred the meaning of victory and fairness.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe sought to steady the narrative. “We are enormously grateful to Veron for his contributions and the work he did for the development and growth of African football,” he said. He added that Mosengo-Omba stepped down to support football development in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a request from President Felix Tshisekedi.
Behind the gratitude, there is urgency. CAF has already announced reforms to its statutes and regulations, aimed at restoring faith in refereeing, VAR operations, and disciplinary processes. The governing body admitted that changes are needed to ensure the incidents seen in the AFCON final “do not happen again.”
On the operational front, Samson Adamu has stepped in as acting general secretary. Motsepe expressed confidence in him, saying, “I’m confident that Samson will do a good job… he will be leading us going forward.” His immediate task is clear, stabilise an organisation that finds itself under intense scrutiny.
The wider implications stretch beyond administration. African football stands at a crossroads, with major tournaments and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. Trust, once shaken, is not easily rebuilt.
CAF now waits for CAS to deliver its verdict on Senegal’s appeal. Until then, the shadow of Rabat lingers, and Mosengo-Omba’s departure serves as a reminder that leadership in football is often judged as much by crises as by success.
