Fresh Allegations Raise Questions Over CAF Governance and Election Conduct

Fresh Allegations Raise Questions Over CAF Governance and Election Conduct

By Admin 

African football has been hit by renewed controversy following allegations that the Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Veron Mosengo-Omba, disregarded a recommendation that would have ruled Pierre-Alain Mounguengui ineligible for election to CAF’s powerful executive committee.

Mounguengui, president of the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot), was re-elected to Caf’s executive body in 2023 despite ongoing allegations that he failed to act on reports of widespread sexual abuse involving young footballers in Gabon. The allegations, first reported in 2021, centre on claims that abuse by multiple coaches went unreported to authorities. Mounguengui has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not been accused of committing sexual abuse himself.

As part of Caf’s electoral process, all candidates for its 24-member executive committee are required to undergo an eligibility review conducted by the organisation’s governance committee. However, sources familiar with the process have claimed that all but one member of the committee believed Mounguengui should have been deemed ineligible, a recommendation that was ultimately dismissed by Mosengo-Omba.

Several sources within the governance committee further allege that Mosengo-Omba bypassed a request for an independent legal opinion on Mounguengui’s eligibility and instead insisted the committee consult Mounguengui’s personal lawyer — a move critics say amounted to a clear conflict of interest.

One source described internal unrest at the time, claiming the former chair of the governance committee strongly objected to the process and questioned the integrity of the decision-making. “He requested the opinion of an independent lawyer and made it clear that what was happening was not acceptable,” the source said, describing the episode as chaotic.

Another senior CAF source suggested political considerations may have influenced the outcome, claiming Mosengo-Omba relied on Mounguengui’s backing within Central Africa amid tensions with several regional football federation leaders. “Mounguengui has consistently supported Veron at executive level,” the source said.

Caf has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. Mosengo-Omba has previously faced criticism over claims that he runs the organisation in an authoritarian manner and fosters a culture of fear, allegations that emerged publicly in October. Caf has also declined to clarify whether Mosengo-Omba, who is close to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, intends to step down after reaching the organisation’s statutory retirement age of 66.

Despite the unresolved legal issues in Gabon, Mounguengui was appointed a Caf vice-president in April. His appointment came amid continued investigations into abuse allegations within Gabonese football, including the arrest of another Fegafoot-affiliated coach, Paul Lambert Nguema Ebang Toung, known as “Lumière”, who has been charged with paedophilia, public indecency and obstruction of justice and is awaiting trial.

Fifa banned former Gabon youth-team coach Patrick Assoumou Eyi, known as “Capello”, for life in March after he admitted to charges of raping, grooming and exploiting young players. World football’s governing body is believed to be continuing investigations into whether Mounguengui failed to report allegations against Eyi and other coaches to Gabonese authorities.

An independent investigator reportedly recommended Mounguengui’s immediate suspension in early 2024, though no action has yet been taken. Mounguengui previously spent six months in custody while awaiting a prosecutorial decision and could face up to three years in prison if convicted. A final ruling in his case remains pending.