Nigeria’s World Cup playoff hopes may have received an unexpected lift amid fresh governance turmoil within the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as renewed calls mount for Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba to step aside over questions surrounding the legality of his continued stay in office.
Mosengo-Omba, a Congolese football administrator, is facing scrutiny following allegations that he may have influenced the handling of a petition submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to FIFA. The petition challenges the alleged fielding of ineligible players by the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent CAF/FIFA World Cup playoff fixture against Nigeria.
The governance concerns were raised publicly by CAF Executive Committee member Samir Sobha, who heads the Mauritius Football Association. In remarks first reported by The Guardian, Sobha claimed Mosengo-Omba, 66, is “occupying the seat illegally” under CAF’s employment regulations and therefore lacks a valid mandate to remain in office.
At the centre of the controversy is Regulation 130 of CAF’s employment handbook, which prescribes a compulsory retirement age of 63, with provision for a single three-year extension at the discretion of the CAF president or secretary general.
Mosengo-Omba, appointed in March 2021 at age 61, turned 63 in October 2022 and was granted a three-year extension by CAF President Patrice Motsepe. According to Sobha, that extension expired on 15 October 2025.
“As per the statutes, he is occupying the seat illegally right now,” Sobha was quoted as saying, arguing that without a valid extension, the secretary general would lack the legal authority to make binding decisions or sign official documents. He urged CAF’s leadership to “rectify this position” in line with its statutes.
Motsepe, speaking after CAF’s Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, declined to address the interpretation of the retirement rule directly.
“Retirement is governed by our rules and regulations. We deal with those things not just in accordance with legality, but also with governance. We will take the best decision as CAF, concerning employees,” he said.
Mosengo-Omba was absent from the Dar es Salaam meeting due to what CAF described as an urgent family matter in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meanwhile, the NFF’s petition to FIFA over the alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo remains unresolved. The case, initially expected to be decided earlier this week, has reportedly been referred to the FIFA Council for a final determination — a ruling that could significantly shape Nigeria’s playoff fate.
