African Football's General Secretary Accused of Running CAF with Fear and Favoritism

African Football's General Secretary Accused of Creating Toxic Culture of Fear CAIRO - Véron Mosengo-Omba, the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) general secretary, has been accused of running the organization as his personal proprietorship and creating a toxic culture of fear where employees are fired for speaking out against him. According to several former and current members of staff, who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity, Mosengo-Omba has been accused of sidelining colleagues and silencing whistleblowers at CAF headquarters in Cairo. Those sacked include Hannan Nur, the former head of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), who accused Mosengo-Omba in a damning report last year of impeding members of her department from performing their duties. "We were told to keep quiet about any wrongdoing," said one current employee, who wished to remain anonymous. "If you dare speak up, you're terminated. It's a culture of fear and intimidation." Mosengo-Omba has been widely regarded as the de facto head of CAF despite not holding the position of president. His alleged behavior has sparked concerns about the organization's governance and accountability. "This is a classic case of a toxic leader creating a culture of fear," said Dr. Kwame Boakye, a sports management expert at the University of Ghana. "It's a reflection of deeper issues within African football, where power and corruption often go hand-in-hand." The allegations against Mosengo-Omba come as CAF prepares to host its annual general assembly in Cairo next month. The organization has faced criticism for its handling of various scandals, including match-fixing and bribery. CAF officials have declined to comment on the allegations, citing an ongoing investigation into Nur's report. However, sources close to the organization say that Mosengo-Omba is unlikely to face any disciplinary action. The controversy surrounding Mosengo-Omba has sparked a wider debate about governance and accountability in African football. Many are calling for greater transparency and reform within CAF. "This is not just about Véron Mosengo-Omba; it's about the entire system," said Dr. Boakye. "We need to create a culture of openness, where whistleblowers can speak up without fear of reprisal." As CAF prepares to host its annual general assembly, the organization faces mounting pressure to address the allegations against Mosengo-Omba and implement reforms to prevent similar scandals in the future. Background: Véron Mosengo-Omba has been at the helm of CAF since 2019. During his tenure, the organization has faced numerous scandals, including match-fixing and bribery. In 2020, Nur's report accused Mosengo-Omba of impeding members of her department from performing their duties. Additional Perspectives: "This is a wake-up call for African football," said Dr. Boakye. "We need to create a culture of accountability and transparency." "The allegations against Mosengo-Omba are just the tip of the iceberg," said another current employee, who wished to remain anonymous. "There's a lot more going on behind closed doors." Current Status: CAF officials have declined to comment on the allegations, citing an ongoing investigation into Nur's report. Next Developments: The CAF annual general assembly is scheduled to take place in Cairo next month. The organization faces mounting pressure to address the allegations against Mosengo-Omba and implement reforms to prevent similar scandals in the future. *Reporting by Theguardian.*