Confederation of African Football general secretary Veron Mossengo-Omba has resigned after repeated calls for his removal and at a turbulent time for the game on the continent.
The 66-year-old said he was retiring but his departure comes amid a crisis of confidence in the organisation's leadership, with a growing fallout over the decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and calls for an investigation into alleged corruption at African football's governing body.
There has been a swell of recent criticism of his staying on as general secretary well past the organisation's mandatory retirement age of 63, largely on social media but also from members of CAF's executive committee.
Mossengo-Omba has been a divisive figure at CAF, accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere at the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Of Congolese origin but a Swiss citizen and former FIFA employee, Mossengo-Omba was a university friend of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Senegal paraded the AFCON trophy ahead of their friendly against Peru in Paris on Saturday – despite being stripped of the crown.
The team's players and staff showed off the trophy at the Stade de France as the row over the Confederation of African Football's decision to award Morocco the title rumbles on.
CAF’s decision earlier this month came two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament.
An appeal board determined the Senegal team had forfeited the final when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty deep in stoppage time.
Separetely, the Africa Cup of Nations is set to be increased to 28 teams from 24.
The surprise announcement was made at a press conference following an executive committee meeting, with CAF president Patrice Motsepe saying it was evidence of his organisation's "commitment to world-class football with the best African players from all over the world returning to compete on the continent."
But he did not explain how the format will work with four extra teams, nor when it would be implemented.
The last four Cup of Nations finals have all had 24 participants, increased from 16 in 2019.
Motsepe insisted the 2027 finals would go ahead as planned in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
There is to be another Cup of Nations tournament in 2028, after which the continent's showpiece event will be held every four years.
CAF is to introduce a Nations League annually from 2029 with a 16-team final tournament held every two years, he added.
"We have to stop this thing of African fixtures not being predictable, consistent and reliable. We must develop football in East Africa, which is an area of much potential," Motsepe said.
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