When CAF Exco went live: 8 key takeaways from the meeting as Africa’s best-kept football secrets unplugged

CAF’s Exco meeting in Nairobi accidentally went live, revealing a rare glimpse into the inner workings of African football.

On Monday, Africa's crème de la crème of football governance gathered in Nairobi’s plush corridors of the Kempinski Hotel ready to dive deep into another chapter of their illustrious governance saga.

But this time, the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Executive Committee meeting provided a little something extra—something that was meant to stay behind closed doors but instead played out in glorious unintended transparency for the world to see.

Yes, for the first time in its 62-year history, a mishap by the CAF media team gave the footballing world a brief, juicy peek into the machinations of African football’s inner sanctum. And oh, what a sight it was. The secrets, the power plays, and the governance gaffes meant for whispered discussions suddenly found their way onto YouTube, until they were promptly pulled off the air like a soap opera cliffhanger. But not before the damage had been done.

So what went down during that part of the meeting that got accidentally aired live? Pulse Sports takes a stroll through the highlights of CAF’s “Exco Exposé.”

'Honesty is the best policy—except here'

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, looking every bit the seasoned diplomat, took no prisoners. The man did not mince his words. Instead of the usual pleasantries you might expect in such high-level meetings, Motsepe bluntly expressed his frustration with some of his sycophantic Exco members.

“You’re not my friend and not helping me when you’re not honest with me,” he declared, leaving several members squirming in their seats. It was like watching a strict headmaster reprimanding a classroom of students for bringing in half-baked homework assignments. And make no mistake, Motsepe was not impressed.

The look on some of the Exco members' faces? Priceless. There’s nothing quite like being publicly dressed down while accidentally being broadcast live on YouTube. Awkward doesn’t begin to cover it.

Changing the age game

Now, if you thought that was all, the meeting had another trick up its sleeve. The proposal to change the age limit for contesting CAF Exco elections—raising the ceiling from 70 years—was tabled. And get this: there was not a single voice of opposition.

Perhaps the Exco members were all too busy recovering from Motsepe’s earlier verbal smackdown to object. Or maybe they were just looking forward to a future where they could keep their cushy jobs well into their golden years.

This proposal will be submitted to the General Assembly for ratification, but given the resounding silence in the room, it seems the members are already ready to take out the cake for their 75th birthdays without fear of forced retirement.

The case of the missing accounts

Now, this part of the Exco meeting was a little like being promised cake and getting served dry toast instead. The much-anticipated review of the 2022/2023 financial accounts was postponed. Why? Well, the Audit and Compliance Committee refused to sign off on them. Now, that is the kind of tension that would make even the most laid-back football administrator break out in a nervous sweat.

Motsepe assured everyone that the committee would be allowed to do its work “without fear or favor,” which, in translation, meant the accountants had seen something fishy and were not about to sweep it under the rug. The fact that the accounts were not discussed speaks volumes. And if the Audit Committee is truly independent, as Motsepe claims, then someone somewhere in CAF is going to have some sleepless nights ahead.

Mosengo-Omba: The man under investigation

Let us not forget CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, who, despite the scrutiny swirling around him, was present at the meeting.

Rumor has it that the tension in the room when his name was mentioned could have cut glass. Allegations against him range from creating an "unethical and unprofessional environment" to impeding the duties of the compliance department, not to mention some spicy accusations about his choice of words in emails. What was he thinking, sending saucy internal memos during his lunch break?

With an ongoing investigation looming over his head, this was not the Exco meeting to relax. And Motsepe, ever the statesman, reinforced that the committee tasked with investigating him would remain independent.

“No one will tell them how to do their work,” he declared, in what must have felt like a thinly veiled warning to anyone thinking of tampering with the process.

Mosengo-Omba’s expression, meanwhile, was that of a man who suddenly wished he were anywhere but that room.

The money machine

But not everything in the meeting was doom and gloom. Motsepe did offer some light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel. There is a company willing to raise funds for CAF, Motsepe shared, and they only want a modest 10% commission on whatever they raise.

Now, you might expect the Exco to have a healthy debate over such a proposal, especially with financial management being under the spotlight.

But it seemed like everyone in the room was just happy to have some potential income to salivate over. One can only hope that 10% does not end up turning into a magic 20% down the line.

Aisha Johansen: back and fighting

Another key figure present in Nairobi was Sierra Leone’s former FA president Aisha Johansen. Fresh off her acquittal from corruption charges in August, Johansen has emerged from the fire more determined than ever. Her name was cleared, but the drama surrounding Sierra Leone's suspension by FIFA over allegations of government interference has left a lingering cloud.

Johansen, however, is no stranger to navigating choppy waters. This Nairobi meeting was just another chapter in her football governance journey, and judging by her recent legal victory, she’s not one to back down.

Mounguengui's dark clouds

Meanwhile, Gabonese football boss Pierre-Alain Mounguengui also made the headlines, though for far less triumphant reasons.

Recently re-elected for a third term, Mounguengui has found himself mired in a legal mess related to allegations of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse within Gabonese football.

Arrested, held in pre-trial detention, and facing potential prison time, his future looks grim. If found guilty, he could serve up to three years behind bars—not exactly the kind of leadership CAF wants on its Exco.

The CAF comedy of errors

And so, as the CAF Exco members filed out of Nairobi’s Kempinski Hotel, their heads held high (and perhaps their paranoia levels slightly higher), the football world was left to digest what had just happened. It is rare for us mere mortals to get a glimpse into the footballing powers' secret world, and rarer still for those secrets to be so accidentally laid bare.

But one thing’s for sure: after this accidental broadcast, CAF’s Exco meetings will likely be a little more buttoned-up in the future. Or at least, one would hope the media team remembers to double-check the livestream button next time!