The contest to become the next secretary general of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly narrowed to three leading candidates, with interim secretary general Samson Adamu considered the favourite despite a hesitant start in the role.
CAF is expected to appoint a new secretary general following the departure of Veron Mosengo-Omba several months ago. According to Sport News Africa, a shortlist of five candidates has been drawn up from about 100 applications.
The three names currently regarded as the strongest contenders are Adamu, CAF’s director of legal and compliance affairs Cedrick Aghey, and Jean-Jacques Diene, the former chief of staff to the secretary general.
Diene is said to have built a strong reputation within African football. However, his candidacy reportedly lacks the backing of part of the CAF executive committee.
Adamu remains the leading candidate, although his initial period as interim secretary general has not fully convinced those expecting major decisions. Despite that, he is popular among CAF employees and maintains close relationships with several national federations, partly because of his previous work as the organisation’s director of competitions.
His standing has also improved through a closer relationship with CAF president Patrice Motsepe in recent months.
Aghey, by contrast, is reportedly highly unpopular with members of the executive committee. Sport News Africa says his appointment was never formally approved by the committee before he took up his current position.
The report also alleges that Aghey has sought to undermine Adamu. Tensions between the two men are said to have reached their highest point in recent weeks.
With the assistance of CAF human resources director Reem Adel, Aghey is alleged to have attempted to compile a case concerning alleged ethical breaches by Adamu. The report specifically refers to Adamu’s romantic relationship with a CAF employee.
Sport News Africa further claims that several media articles were commissioned and that an intelligence firm was brought in with the aim of damaging the Nigerian’s reputation. Aghey, who is Franco-Togolese, is also alleged to have persuaded several people to turn against Adamu.
Those efforts have reportedly failed to produce the desired result. Aghey is said not to enjoy strong support from Motsepe, while he has also allegedly lost the confidence of Mosengo-Omba.
Although Mosengo-Omba is now president of the Congolese Football Association (Fecofa), his influence within CAF remains significant and he is still regarded as a figure whose views carry weight with Motsepe.
That relationship could prove important as the governing body prepares to make its decision. The shortlist is understood to contain five names, but the competition is increasingly centred on the contrasting positions of Adamu, Aghey and Diene.
The appointment will determine who takes charge of CAF’s administration after Mosengo-Omba’s departure and will place the successful candidate at the centre of the organisation’s day-to-day operations.
Report by Prudence Ahanogbe.
