Veron Mosengo-Omba, the General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is under investigation in Switzerland for alleged criminal mismanagement of funds. Despite the ongoing probe, Mosengo-Omba has maintained that the financial transfers in question were “legitimate” and fully transparent.
The investigation, based in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, stems from concerns raised by the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS). According to MROS, an analysis of financial transactions revealed that Mosengo-Omba had received bonuses significantly higher than those outlined in his contract and transferred the funds through multiple Swiss bank accounts.
MROS noted that the transactions involved “cash withdrawals” and transfers between personal accounts, making it difficult to trace how the money was spent. “These elements give rise to suspicions of acts of criminal mismanagement,” stated MROS in its report.
In response, Mosengo-Omba released a statement on X, where he defended the transfers, describing them as “remuneration and bonus” payments from CAF, adding that they were made with “full transparency.” He also emphasized that no criminal proceedings had been initiated, stating, “The money was in full compliance with the CAF statutes.”
The Fribourg prosecutor’s office had attempted to transfer the case to Switzerland’s national Office of the Attorney General, but a court rejected the request on September 13. The court ruling, which only identified Mosengo-Omba as the general secretary of an Egypt-based organization, was later publicized by Swiss investigative news site Gotham City.
Mosengo-Omba expressed his willingness to cooperate with authorities, saying, “I have notified the Prosecutor of the Canton of Fribourg of my availability to answer any queries and provide any information he may require.” He also contacted his banks to clarify any doubts about the transfers.
CAF, under the leadership of South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, is currently working to restore its image following previous corruption scandals. In 2020, CAF’s former president Ahmad Ahmad was suspended by FIFA for financial misconduct, further tarnishing the organization’s reputation.
Mosengo-Omba, who holds both Congolese and Swiss citizenship, studied law at the University of Fribourg, where he became friends with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Despite the investigation, no formal charges have yet been filed against the CAF secretary.
