CAF Executive Committee to decide fate of Secretary General in March meeting

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to convene an Executive Committee meeting at the end of March to address several unresolved issues, including the future of the organisation’s Secretary General.

According to reports, the meeting will seek to determine whether Congolese official Veron Mosengo-Omba will remain in his role or be replaced as part of proposed administrative reforms within the continental governing body.

Mosengo-Omba’s position has come under scrutiny in recent months, with discussions within CAF focusing on appointing a new Secretary General from within the African Union administrative structure.

Two leading candidates have emerged in the internal debate.

One faction within CAF is reportedly backing Samson Adamu, the organisation’s current Director of Competitions, while another camp – said to have the support of FIFA – is pushing for Gelson Fernandes, a Swiss national of African origin who currently works within FIFA’s Member Associations division.

Governance tensions within CAF

The upcoming meeting follows a tense Executive Committee session held on February 13 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where disagreements reportedly emerged between committee members and CAF president Patrice Motsepe.

Several members voiced dissatisfaction with aspects of CAF’s governance, particularly regarding refereeing matters and the leadership of the General Secretariat.

Some officials also called for structural reforms, including the dissolution of the CAF Referees Committee and the removal of its current leadership.

Concerns were also raised about what some members described as unilateral decision-making without adequate consultation within official CAF meetings.

Key tournament matters on agenda

Beyond governance issues, the Executive Committee is also expected to review preparations for several upcoming continental competitions.

Among the key topics is the CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco from April 6 to 15. The committee will also discuss preparations for the CAF U‑17 Africa Cup of Nations, set to run from April 25 to May 15, 2026.

In addition, discussions are expected to cover future scheduling frameworks for the Africa Cup of Nations, including upcoming editions in 2027, 2028 and beyond.

Motsepe previously dismissed speculation that the 2027 tournament – which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – could be postponed due to infrastructure concerns.

The CAF president insisted the three East African nations remain on track with preparations to stage the tournament.

Possible expansion of AFCON

Another proposal expected to be discussed is the possible expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 teams to 28 in future editions, a move that would further increase participation across the continent.

If approved, the expansion would represent another significant structural change for Africa’s flagship international tournament, which was expanded from 16 to 24 teams starting with the 2019 edition.

The outcome of the Executive Committee meeting could therefore shape both CAF’s administrative leadership and the future direction of African football competitions.