CAIRO, EGYPT – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been thrown into a fresh crisis following the resignation of its General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, even as the body announced a major expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to 28 teams.
Mosengo-Omba stepped down on Sunday amid the chaotic fallout from the 2025 AFCON final, which saw Senegal stripped of the title after beating Morocco 1-0 in extra time. CAF controversially awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match following a stoppage-time penalty dispute
. Senegal has since appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In his resignation statement, the 66-year-old said he was retiring “with peace of mind” after dispelling “suspicions” cast on him
. His tenure was marked by criticism over exceeding CAF’s mandatory retirement age and allegations of creating a toxic workplace . CAF’s competitions director, Samson Adamu, will take over as acting general secretary.
Amid the leadership vacuum, CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, but the tournament will expand from 24 to 28 teams.
Motsepe also revealed that after 2027, another AFCON will be held in 2028 before the competition shifts to a four-year cycle . To fill the annual calendar gap, CAF will introduce an African Nations League starting in 2029.
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