AFCON controversy: CAF secretary general quits, teams expanded to 28

The General Secretary of Confederation of African Football, Veron Mosengo-Omba, has stepped down after five years in office, drawing the curtain on a tenure marked by controversy and major administrative shifts.

Announcing his resignation on Sunday, Mosengo-Omba said he was leaving with a clear conscience after months of scrutiny. “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,” he said, adding that he exits having left CAF “more prosperous than ever.”

His departure follows the fallout from the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco. Senegal had initially won the match 1-0, but CAF later overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory after ruling a forfeiture over a disputed penalty incident. The decision is now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Further criticism trailed CAF’s recent postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was moved from March to July, raising fresh concerns about the body’s planning and scheduling.

Although Mosengo-Omba faced allegations ranging from governance issues to workplace concerns, an internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing during his tenure.

CAF competitions director Samson Adamu has since been named interim secretary general, pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.

Meanwhile, CAF President Patrice Motsepe unveiled sweeping changes to the continent’s flagship competition, announcing that the Africa Cup of Nations will expand from 24 to 28 teams. He also confirmed that the tournament will become a four-year event after the 2027 edition, set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

To bridge the gap, CAF plans to introduce a Nations League-style competition from 2029, involving all 54 member associations a move aimed at boosting competitiveness and commercial value across African football.

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