The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed Samson Adamu as its substantive general secretary, making him the first Nigerian to occupy the position since the organisation was founded in 1957.
The appointment follows his initial designation as interim general secretary in March, after the resignation of Veron Mosengo-Omba, a Swiss-Congolese official.
Adamu, 40, previously served as CAF’s Director of Competitions and takes over the administrative leadership of African football’s governing body following approval by its executive committee.
His appointment marks a significant milestone for Nigeria, with Adamu becoming the first Nigerian to hold the organisation’s top administrative position in its nearly seven-decade history.
With extensive experience in sports governance, Adamu has played a key role in organising major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the CAF Champions League.
As general secretary, he will oversee the organisation’s day-to-day administration, legal affairs and the implementation of decisions taken by the executive committee.
The position is widely regarded as the “engine room” of African football, placing Adamu at the centre of CAF’s administrative operations.
Adamu holds a FIFA Master in management, law and humanities of sport.
He began his career in football administration in the early 2010s by establishing the now-defunct Copa Lagos beach tournament, which helped launch his journey into sports governance.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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