2 weeks ago
Véron Mosengo-Omba, nan sole campaigner to go nan president of nan Democratic Republic of nan Congo shot federation, Fecofa, is astatine nan centre of allegations of bullying and intimidation by members of nan Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) audit and compliance committee (AACC).
The allegations centre connected a two-hour gathering betwixt Mosengo-Omba and nan audit and compliance committee connected 19 October 2024. During nan gathering Mosengo-Omba, astatine nan clip nan Caf wide secretary, threatened to writer nan members of nan AACC and study them to nan Fifa morals committee because they endorsed a 2023-24 governance, consequence and compliance (GRC) study which was highly captious of Mosengo-Omba’s ethical conduct. The Guardian has listened to a signaling of nan meeting.
A personnel of nan AACC who attended nan gathering told nan Guardian: “First of each Véron [Mosengo-Omba] called this gathering alternatively of our chair [Mohammed Zaazi of Morocco] … and started nan gathering pinch an preamble … [but] 3 minutes into it, he is talking astir suing america if we study that location are issues successful nan financial statements.
“[Our relationship] started disconnected good earlier nan clip came for america to reappraisal and talk nan audit reports and financial statements. We started asking questions, and boom, we were abruptly astatine warfare pinch nan caput general’s office. At times I had to inquire why nan caput of ineligible [Felix Majani, who has since resigned] was successful [that meeting] and different meetings alternatively than nan caput of governance [Hannan Nur].
“A committee gathering should only person nan members [of nan audit and compliance committee] and nan caput general. The caput of governance should beryllium location arsenic a secretary, and whoever other needs to beryllium coming from nan [Caf] agency needs to beryllium invited and needs to time off aft their taxable matter has been exhausted.”
The personnel of nan AACC nan Guardian has spoken to says Mosengo-Omba threatened to study each of them to nan Fifa morals committee for what was written successful nan 2023-24 governance, consequence and compliance (GRC) study and that Mosengo-Omba felt that nan AACC was complicit successful a run of “calumny” against him. “He said [it] could pull Fifa sanctions. He threatened to writer each of america and he threatened america pinch his lawyers. I person wanted to resign galore times but I do not want to time off [the AACC] successful a mess.”
The nine-page 2023-24 GRC report, which has been seen by nan Guardian, was written by nan caput of governance, Nur, who successful it says she was “obstructed” successful completing her compliance duties and that location was “undue interference successful GRC work” from Mosengo-Omba’s office.
In nan report, Nur writes: “To position Caf successful nan realm of world shot organisations, successful nan past year, nan caput of GRC drafted a recently updated compliance programme which includes nan pursuing documents: compliance handbook, codification of conduct, codification of behaviour for 3rd parties and bully governance principles … For almost a year, nan agency of nan wide caput held backmost these documents for reappraisal … The changeless obstruction addresses an wide cognition of wide mistrust which fuels beliefs of master inadequacy and incompetency.”
Nur was dismissed past twelvemonth and is suing Caf for victimisation astatine activity and unfair dismissal.
Mosengo-Omba did not reply to nan Guardian erstwhile asked to remark astir nan allegations. He has antecedently denied wrongdoing successful narration to nan allegations made successful nan GRC report, insisting he has “acted pinch afloat integrity” and that “independent investigations will expose nan falsity” of nan claims. The Guardian has besides contacted Mohammed Zaazi, arsenic good arsenic nan different members of nan AACC, to perceive their relationship of nan gathering successful October 2024, but they person not responded.
Miguel Maduro, nan erstwhile chair of Fifa’s governance committee, who was advocate-general of nan European tribunal of justness from 2003 to 2009, has called for nan dismissal of Nur to beryllium investigated. “It’s suspicious but 1 needs a due investigation to found nan nexus betwixt nan study and her firing,” he told nan Guardian. “Only a due investigation will beryllium capable to found that. I tin only opportunity that specified an investigation, obviously, should return place.”
Mosengo-Omba, 66, resigned arsenic Caf wide caput successful March, having stayed connected beyond nan mandatory status property of 63, saying: “After complete 30 years of an world master profession dedicated to promoting an perfect shape of shot that brings group together, educates, and creates opportunities for hope, I person decided to measurement down from my position arsenic caput wide of Caf to give myself to much individual projects.”
In October 2025 nan Guardian reported that Mosengo-Omba had been accused of moving Caf arsenic his “proprietorship” and creating a toxic culture of fear, wherever labor are fired for speaking retired against him. He has denied immoderate wrongdoing.
In March Mosengo-Omba became nan ninth and last campaigner to corroborate he would guidelines successful nan Fecofa elections, which return spot connected Wednesday. The different 8 person pulled retired aliases been declared ineligible, pinch Mosengo-Omba poised to presume agency and lead nan state to their 2nd World Cup.
Mosengo-Omba’s Fecofa statesmanlike candidature has been a taxable of controversy. Having near nan DRC for further studies successful Europe astatine 18 he renounced his citizenship to go a Swiss nationalist arsenic nan constitution of nan cardinal African state forbids dual nationality. It remains unclear whether he has renounced his Swiss nationality and legally restored his Congolese citizenship.
The Caf president, Patrice Motsepe, told nan Guardian past twelvemonth that “he had complete spot and assurance successful Véron [Mosengo-Omba]”.
Jean-Claude Mukanya, nan erstwhile DRC captain, who was 1 nan candidates ruled ineligible, has called for nan elections to beryllium suspended and for an investigation into alleged irregularities successful nan process. A connection said: “To Fifa and Caf, we inquire for nan opening of a superior investigation truthful that ray is shed connected nan electoral process successful nan Democratic Republic of Congo, to found nan responsibilities of each different earlier deciding to reschedule caller deadlines for nan elections of nan executive committee of nan Fecofa.”
Additional reporting by Ed Aarons
