African soccer’s common secretary accused of making poisonous tradition of concern | Soccer

The Confederation of African Soccer's common secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, has been accused of operating the organisation as his “proprietorship” and making a poisonous tradition of concern the place staff are fired for talking out in opposition to him.

A number of former and present members of employees have informed the Guardian there may be an environment of intimidation and paranoia on the Caf headquarters in Cairo, the place Mosengo-Omba is accused of sidelining colleagues and silencing whistleblowers.

These sacked embody Hannan Nur – the previous head of governance, danger and compliance (GRC) – who accused Mosengo-Omba in a damning report final 12 months of “impeding” members of her division from performing their duties and, amongst different claims, of breaching inside governance and auditing laws. It was later claimed by Caf's audit and compliance committee that there had been unauthorised interference from Mosengo-Omba in an try to “whitewash” the following investigation.

“Anybody who dares to talk up – anybody who's a part of the report – is terminated, with out trigger, with none due course of,” stated one senior worker who requested to not be named for concern of retaliation. “We stay in an organisation that intentionally hides the reality in order to not embarrass the secretary common and his entourage. Every thing is political now.”

Abiola Ijasanmi, the previous Caf chief working officer, was dismissed in April after making allegations just like Nur's in opposition to the overall secretary in one other report. Noumandiez Doué, the top of refereeing, and Raúl Chipenda, the director of growth, have been sacked in August.

“We've clear directions to regulate info and stop sure issues from leaking out; that's how it's,” stated one communications officer who didn't wish to be named. “When the 2 stories began to leak, they hunted down the mole – that was their concern somewhat than checking out the problems.”

Staff declare the impartial committees are not impartial, with key choices “manipulated” or “influenced” by Mosengo-Omba's workplace. “Véron and another administrators are operating Caf as their very own proprietorship,” a former senior employees member stated. “What's much more unhappy is the truth that the committees don't operate. The impartial committees should not impartial. They're influenced. Véron all the time tries to control the choice and he's all the time influencing them.”

Others allege that employees linked to Mosengo-Omba can now make choices exterior their departments, breaching Caf statutes and inside procedures. A number of sources additionally accused Mosengo-Omba, a longstanding pal and former college colleague of the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, of favouritism and abuse of workplace, claiming he has appointed associates and compatriots from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to senior positions for which they weren't certified.

“He abuses his workplace to have folks from his dwelling nation and other people he is aware of in positions that they're not certified for,” one other senior employees member stated.
“Caf is not pursuing a coverage of growth, however somewhat serving particular person pursuits.”

The allegations echo claims made within the GRC's report final 12 months that was submitted to Caf's govt committee this 12 months, which described a “nerve-racking, unethical and unprofessional atmosphere” beneath Mosengo-Omba's management.

On the Caf common congress final week within the DRC, it introduced income of $9.48m for the 2023-24 monetary 12 months, which it stated “displays a robust enhance in business revenues, pushed by the rising international enchantment of African soccer, the addition of recent sponsors, and the implementation of strict monetary controls by the Caf management”. However sources have alleged that Caf's funds are fragile regardless of public claims of stability.

“The audit and compliance committee tried to lift the problem, however [Mosengo-Omba's] modus operandi is to silence you otherwise you're out,” one insider stated.

The alleged misuse of Fifa Ahead funds – growth cash meant for African soccer tasks – stays a specific concern. Workers declare that Mosengo-Omba has taken “sole management” of the funds, resulting in irregularities that haven't been independently audited.

Workers have additionally alleged that president Patrice Motsepe, who was re-elected unopposed for a second time period in March, has not often set foot within the Caf headquarters. “Motsepe isn't right here,” one senior worker stated. “In 4 years of his mandate, he solely got here twice and met the employees as soon as. He doesn't have a clue what's occurring inside his personal confederation.”

Mosengo-Omba is extensively considered the de facto head of Caf, consolidating energy over day-to-day operations, although probably the most senior place is held by Motsepe. Mosengo-Omba turns 66 this month, the statutory retirement age beneath Caf's laws, however has indicated he'll stay in submit and relocate to Morocco for the lads's Africa Cup of Nations that begins in December. “He mustn't proceed working past the fifteenth of October,” stated one official.

Nur has filed a case for wrongful dismissal on the Cairo Regional Centre for Worldwide Arbitration that's anticipated to be heard within the coming months.

Caf didn't reply to detailed questions concerning the allegations. Mosengo-Omba has beforehand denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations made within the GRC report, insisting he has “acted with full integrity” and that “impartial investigations will expose the falsity” of the claims.

Motsepe has expressed “whole confidence” in Mosengo-Omba and stated Caf was awaiting the findings of an impartial inquiry arrange this 12 months to look into the GRC report's allegations. Nonetheless, for a lot of throughout the organisation, the harm to morale and credibility is completed.

“I really feel very sorry for Caf and African soccer,” one long-serving worker stated. “We're not pursuing growth, solely defending folks's private energy.”