African Football's General Secretary Accused of Fostering Culture of Fear and Intimidation

African Football's General Secretary Accused of Creating Toxic Culture of Fear CAIRO, Egypt — Véron Mosengo-Omba, the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) general secretary, has been accused of running the organization as his own proprietorship and creating a toxic culture of fear where employees are fired for speaking out against him. According to multiple sources, including former and current staff members, Mosengo-Omba has been accused of sidelining colleagues and silencing whistleblowers at CAF headquarters in Cairo. The allegations come after Hannan Nur, the former head of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), was sacked last year for speaking out against Mosengo-Omba's leadership. "Hannan was a whistleblower who dared to speak truth to power," said one source, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation. "She accused Mosengo-Omba of impeding members of her department from performing their duties and breaching internal policies. Instead of addressing the issues, she was terminated." Mosengo-Omba has been widely regarded as the de facto head of CAF despite not holding the position of president. His leadership style has been described as autocratic, with employees fearing reprisal for speaking out against him. "This is a culture of fear and intimidation," said another source, who also wished to remain anonymous. "Anyone who dares speak up is terminated. It's like working in a dictatorship." The allegations have sparked concerns about the impact on African football and its development. CAF has been criticized for its handling of corruption and governance issues, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability. "This is not just an internal issue; it's a matter of public concern," said Dr. Kwame Boafo, a sports management expert at the University of Ghana. "CAF's leadership must be held accountable for creating a culture that stifles dissent and promotes fear." The allegations come as CAF prepares to host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The tournament is expected to attract millions of fans and generate significant revenue for African football. In response to the allegations, CAF issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and stating that Mosengo-Omba's leadership has been instrumental in transforming the organization. "CAF is committed to transparency and accountability," said a spokesperson for the organization. "We take all allegations seriously and will investigate them thoroughly." The investigation is ongoing, but sources close to the matter say it may be months before any conclusions are reached. As African football continues to grow and develop, the controversy surrounding Mosengo-Omba's leadership raises important questions about governance, accountability, and the impact on the sport's development. *Reporting by Theguardian.*