Sports

CAF launches investigation into corruption allegations against Secretary-General

Published

5 months ago

August 2, 2024

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into several corruption and misconduct allegations levelled against its Secretary-General, Véron Mosengo-Omba.

The move to probe Mosengo-Omba came after an internal investigation was launched to scrutinize the Secretary-General’s conduct as revealed in a recent emergency meeting presided over by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

According to sources present at the meeting which was described as tense, CAF Executive Committee discussed a report submitted by the head of governance, risk, and compliance.

“The allegations against Mosengo-Omba are severe, accusing him of creating an unethical and unprofessional environment within the administration, impeding the duties of the governance, risk, and compliance department, and using inappropriate language in communications,” one source said.

In a statement released after the emergency meeting, CAF conveyed its stance on the issue, emphasizing a zero tolerance policy for corruption or breaches of internal regulations.

“We have committed CAF to adhering to global governance, audit, transparency, and ethics best practices and established in 2021, an Internal Governance and Compliance Department in CAF,” Motsepe stated in the statement.

He elaborated further on the actions taken following the troubling findings.

“This Internal Governance and Compliance Department brought the alleged breach of CAF’s internal Audit and Governance Regulations to our attention.

“The current culture in CAF of implementing and adhering to global governance, audit, transparency, and ethics best practices has resulted in CAF being respected by its sponsors, partners, African Governments, and other African and international stakeholders,” he added.

Motsepe however, assured that the Executive Committee would “discuss the report and recommendations of the Audit and Governance Committee and appropriate action will immediately be taken if improper conduct or behavior is identified by the Audit and Governance Committee.”

Mosengo-Omba who became CAF Secretary General in March 2021, has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that his efforts to reform the institution have been undermined.

In a statement he posted on X, the embattled Mosengo-Omba:

“My efforts to turn around and regularize this institution, which has been disrespected at times, are being sabotaged by an out-of-the-blue report containing grievances without documented proof.

“The planned independent investigation will expose the falsity & origin of this report.”

Related Topics:CAF corruption Featured Misconduct Patrice Motsepe Véron Mosengo-Omba

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Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)

Sports

Nigeria’s Lookman, Zambia’s Banda big winners at 2024 CAF Award

Published

4 days ago

December 17, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigerian sensation, Ademola Lookman, has wrapped his footballing year with another win after being declared as the Men’s Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Lookman, who plays for Italian club side Atalanta, was the biggest winner at the star-studded 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech following 12 months with Italian side Atalanta and the Nigerian Super Eagles. He follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023.

This is the first time Nigeria has had consecutive men’s award winners since nearly thirty years, when Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were awarded.

Other top African achievers recognized for their exploits during the event include South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Zambia’s Barbra Banda. Banda was instrumental in leading Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season in the United States. She scored the game-winning goal in the final against Washington Spirit.

Other winners include Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row after another impressive season for French side Paris FC.

Sanaâ Mssoudy, a forward for AS FAR and Morocco, received the Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award after winning the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Best Player title. Agile box-to-box midfielder, Lamine Camara of Senegal and Monaco, won the Men’s Young Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances for both club and country.

Doha El Madani, a 19-year-old Moroccan and AS FAR player, won the Women’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring six goals in five games to win the Golden Boot at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.

See the full winners list below:

2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)