Dar es salaam: A member of the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) executive committee has raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of General Secretary V©ron Mosengo-Omba's position, asserting that he is 'occupying the seat illegally' and should be compelled to resign. Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritius Football Association, stated that he would not acknowledge Mosengo-Omba's participation in CAF meetings due to his belief that the 66-year-old Swiss-Congolese lawyer no longer holds the position lawfully.
According to Ghana Web, under regulation 130 of CAF's employment handbook, the compulsory retirement age for staff is 63. An extension of three years can be granted at the discretion of the president or the general secretary. Mosengo-Omba, who became the general secretary in March 2021 at 61, reached the age of 63 on October 15, 2022, and was provided with a three-year extension by CAF's president, Patrice Motsepe, which will expire on October 15, 2025.
Sobha emphasized that Mosengo-Omba's current tenure is against the statutes and that the general secretary is not in a legal position to make decisions or sign documents. He urged President Motsepe to address this issue promptly to ensure the appointment of a legitimate general secretary. Sobha claimed that most football association presidents in Africa agree that Mosengo-Omba is currently out of mandate.
During an executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Motsepe commented on the situation, stating that retirement is governed by CAF's rules and regulations and that decisions would be made in accordance with legality and governance. Sobha acknowledged Motsepe's positive qualities but insisted that certain issues need to be resolved within the organization.
Mosengo-Omba was absent from the recent meeting due to a family matter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sobha expressed his intention to voice his disagreement with Mosengo-Omba's position had he been present.
In addition to the general secretary issue, Sobha also addressed a controversy from last month's Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Morocco lost to Senegal after a disputed penalty. Sobha apologized to Morocco for what he termed 'a great injustice' and called for acknowledgment of the error, though he did not advocate for a reversal of the match's outcome.