CAF Secretary Steps Down as AFCON Controversy Deepens, Expansion to 28 Teams Announced

General secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Veron Mosengo-Omba, has stepped down after five years in office, citing a desire to retire “with peace of mind” following a tenure marked by controversy.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Congolese revealed, “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.”

His resignation comes amid the fallout from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, which saw Senegal initially defeat hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time, only for CAF to award Morocco a 3-0 victory after ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match following a stoppage-time penalty dispute.

Senegal has appealed the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Mosengo-Omba’s departure also follows CAF’s recent postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which had been scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3 in Morocco but will now begin on July 25, with the final set for August 16.

Mosengo-Omba, who holds Congolese and Swiss nationality, faced scrutiny during his tenure, with criticism that he continued in the role past CAF’s official retirement age of 63 and that he reportedly created a difficult work environment, though an internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

CAF competitions director Samson Adamu will serve as interim general secretary while the process to appoint a permanent replacement is underway.

Meanwhile, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that the flagship AFCON tournament will expand from 24 to 28 teams, though details of the new format have not yet been released. Motsepe also revealed that AFCON, currently held every two years, will become a quadrennial event after the 2027 edition, which is set to take place across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

To address the resulting gap in fixtures and revenue, CAF plans to launch an annual Nations League-style competition starting in 2029, featuring all 54 member associations and following FIFA international break slots.