Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu has been confirmed as General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ending seven months in an acting capacity and placing him in charge of the organisation’s day-to-day administration on a substantive basis.
CAF announced the decision on Sunday, 1 November 2026, saying its Executive Committee had confirmed Adamu during the preceding week. The appointment followed a recruitment exercise in which the position was publicly advertised and several candidates were interviewed, according to CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Adamu had served as acting General Secretary since March, when Véron Mosengo-Omba stepped down. His confirmation formalises a transition that began with his appointment to the interim post on 29 March and gives CAF continuity in one of its most important administrative offices.
The General Secretary oversees the secretariat and helps put decisions of CAF’s leadership into effect. The responsibilities extend beyond individual matches to the organisation of competitions, coordination with national associations and the administrative work that supports African football across the continent.
Adamu joined CAF in 2018 as Director of Competitions and subsequently became Director of Tournaments and Events. CAF credited him with helping deliver major continental competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, before he took charge of its secretariat earlier this year.
His professional background also includes the FIFA Master programme in International Management, Law and Humanities of Sport. The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), which organises the programme with university partners, identifies him as a member of its 2009 graduating class.
In a 2021 interview with CIES, Adamu described the operational demands of his then position as Director of Competitions. He said his team managed around 816 matches a year and approximately 27 competitions over two years, while working with match officials, member associations and tournament organisers. Those figures describe his responsibilities at the time, rather than CAF’s current workload.
“It taught me how to think when it comes to the sports industry.”
Samson Adamu, CIES interview, April 2021
Adamu also spoke about the value of his postgraduate training and the professional relationships developed during the course. The experience, he explained, helped him approach the sports industry and build a network across countries and institutions.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) welcomed his elevation when he became acting General Secretary in March. In an interview published by the federation in April, Adamu said he wanted to serve African football with humility, integrity and professionalism. The federation also reported his earlier involvement in establishing Copa Lagos, the international beach soccer event.
The NFF subsequently congratulated Adamu on his confirmation as substantive General Secretary in an announcement dated 30 October. The federation’s recognition reflects the significance of a Nigerian administrator occupying CAF’s senior secretariat position, a role historically held by officials from several other African countries.
The appointment comes as CAF continues to coordinate national-team and club competitions and preparations for forthcoming continental tournaments. The organisation has said Adamu will support the implementation of its strategic priorities, but has not announced a separate programme of reforms or new targets as part of his confirmation.
For Adamu, the decision is a progression from competition management to the leadership of CAF’s central administration. His immediate task is the work already assigned to the secretariat: supporting member associations, administering the organisation and translating decisions made by its executive leadership into operational plans. Readers can consult CAF’s official announcement for the confirmation.
Image: CAF, archival photograph from 2021.
