Véron Mosengo-Omba resigned from his position as Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Sunday, March 29, 2026, on the sidelines of an executive committee meeting in Cairo. This resignation comes amidst an already tense environment within the governing body of African football.
Mosengo-Omba announced his decision before leaving the room where the executive committee's work was taking place. His resignation follows the controversial decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 AFCON title, a matter that has plunged CAF into a period of significant turmoil.
CAF officially withdrew the 2025 AFCON title from Senegal following incidents that occurred during the final against Morocco. Senegalese players had left the field to protest a refereeing decision, which led CAF to declare Morocco the winner by default. This decision was strongly contested by the Senegalese Football Federation, which has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Several sources indicate that Mosengo-Omba's departure could be linked to the controversy surrounding his age and his ability to continue in his duties. CAF regulations stipulate a mandatory retirement age of 63, with the possibility of a three-year extension. Mosengo-Omba, born in October 1959, has exceeded this age, and questions have been raised as to the legality of his remaining in office.
The announcement of Véron Mosengo-Omba's resignation adds a new dimension of uncertainty within CAF, as the organization is already facing major challenges. The CAF Executive Committee must now address the issue of his succession and find a new Secretary General to lead the administration of African football. Samson Adamu, the current head of CAF competitions, and Gilson Fernandez, director of member associations at FIFA, are rumored to be his successors.
Mosengo-Omba's resignation comes at a critical time for CAF, which must face important issues such as organizing the next editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and developing football on the continent. The appointment of a new Secretary General will therefore be a crucial step for the future of the organization.
In the meantime, discussions are continuing within the CAF Executive Committee, which will also have to decide on other important issues, such as the dates of upcoming competitions and the organization of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
