The General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, Veron Mosengo-Omba, is under investigation in Switzerland over allegations of financial mismanagement.
Mosengo-Omba, who oversees CAF’s operations from Cairo, is facing scrutiny from authorities in the canton of Fribourg.
The Swiss investigation is centered around financial transfers that Mosengo-Omba claims were legitimate. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), he defended the transfers, saying they were “remuneration and bonuses” received from CAF. He insisted that all transactions were “legitimate, transparent,” and in line with CAF’s statutes.
The investigation began after the Swiss Money Laundering Reporting Office (MROS) flagged transactions involving bonuses that exceeded the limits set in his employment contract. MROS reported suspicious movements of funds between Mosengo-Omba’s Swiss accounts, stating that these activities “hindered any possibility of tracing the use of said funds.”
MROS concluded that the situation raised “suspicions of acts of criminal mismanagement.” However, Mosengo-Omba has denied any wrongdoing, saying that no criminal proceedings have been initiated against him.
“The bank transfers in question refer to remuneration and bonuses I have received from CAF, and they were made in full transparency,” Mosengo-Omba said. He added that he had informed the prosecutor of his availability to cooperate fully and had contacted the banks to clarify any concerns.
CAF, which represents 54 national football associations, is working to rebuild its reputation following past corruption scandals. Its former president, Ahmad Ahmad, was suspended by FIFA in 2020 for financial misconduct. The current CAF president is South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, who has vowed to lead reforms.
Mosengo-Omba, a Congolese-Swiss dual national, has a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, with whom he studied law at the University of Fribourg.
The investigation into Mosengo-Omba is part of broader efforts by Swiss authorities to address financial irregularities within international sports organizations.
