The leadership of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must have breathed a sigh of relief when, on January 23, the public prosecutor’s office of the canton of Fribourg (Switzerland) decided to drop the charges against Véron Mosengo-Omba, the secretary general of the African football governing body, due to lack of evidence.
While the Swiss courts have withdrawn their charges, Mr. Mosengo-Omba’s case remains a sensitive one within the body chaired by South African Patrice Motsepe. An internal investigation was opened against the secretary general, a former director of FIFA’s Member Associations Division, following the publication of a report accusing him of obstruction of governance, favoritism toward certain African federations, and authoritarian management. A former executive, Nigerian Abiola Ijasanmi, notably complained of “harassment” and “intimidation” aimed at forcing her to resign from CAF operations.
The report, issued by the body’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance Department in August 2024, is based on internal CAF testimony that also criticizes Véron Mosengo-Omba for not having sufficiently considered the working conditions of employees. Several security breaches at the institution’s premises in Cairo were reportedly reported to her, without her responding.
This shows how disturbing the Mosengo-Omba case is. “It’s quite divisive. Within the executive committee, some members would like him to leave,” said an elected official who requested anonymity. What he is often criticized for is not disseminating enough information, or even saying nothing at all.” Following the report implicating the Secretary General, CAF’s Audit and Compliance Committee recommended his provisional suspension in September 2024. A request that went unheeded.
Because, it is emphasized, the Secretary General’s involvement in day-to-day management is commensurate with Patrice Motsepe’s disengagement, who is preoccupied with his own affairs. “Nature abhors a vacuum. Mr. Mosengo-Omba has a president who is very often absent and doesn’t seem to follow all the issues, so inevitably, his influence within the body has grown,” explains the president of a sub-Saharan federation.
Véron Mosengo-Omba has even sometimes exceeded his duties by making appointments to key positions without first seeking approval from the executive committee. These include those of Congolese Sarah Mukuna, Director of Member Associations, and Egyptian Reem Adel, Head of Human Resources.
The position of Véron Mosengo-Omba, officially supported by Patrice Motsepe, is unlikely to waver in the medium term. The leader is a personal friend of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with whom he studied at the University of Fribourg. “Mr. Mosengo-Omba’s arrival in Cairo is therefore no coincidence, and it reinforces the impression among African federation leaders that FIFA, while not controlling CAF, is very well informed about everything that happens there,” emphasizes a former FIFA official.
Born on October 15, 1959, in Kinshasa, Swiss national Veron Mosengo is, in principle, required to retire under the regulations in force at the CAF.
Termination at Retirement Age
129. A permanent employment contract terminates no later than the last day of the month in which the employee reaches the retirement age, except for employees who have reached their retirement age and are still employed at the CAF at the time these regulations come into force.
130. The retirement age is 63. Upon reaching retirement age, the resident or the Secretary General may extend the employee’s employment for a maximum period of three (3) years.
Almost three years ago, in 2022, Patrice Motsepe extended Veron Mosengo Omba’s retirement age. In all likelihood, Veron Mosengo will be 67 years old in 2026 and will no longer be able to serve as CAF Secretary General.