The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu as its substantive General Secretary, placing him in charge of the organisation’s administrative operations across the continent.
CAF announced the appointment on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following a recruitment process that involved advertising the position, shortlisting candidates and conducting interviews.
Adamu had served as acting General Secretary since March 2026, following the departure of Veron Mosengo-Omba, who resigned from the position to pursue a role in the football administration of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirmed the appointment, explaining that the organisation had considered several candidates before reaching its decision.
Adamu’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Nigerian representation in African football administration. He has spent eight years working with CAF, holding senior positions that placed him at the centre of the organisation’s competition management and tournament operations.
Before becoming acting General Secretary, he served as Director of Competitions and Director of Tournaments and Events. In those roles, he was involved in the planning, coordination and delivery of major continental competitions involving national teams and clubs.
His experience in these areas is expected to be important in his new role, which extends beyond tournament organisation to include broader administrative responsibilities.
As General Secretary, Adamu will oversee CAF’s day-to-day administrative operations, coordinate the implementation of decisions taken by its leadership and support the organisation’s football development programmes across its member associations.
The appointment comes as CAF continues efforts to strengthen its governance, improve competition management and expand the commercial value of African football.
Adamu assumed the acting position in March 2026 after Mosengo-Omba stepped down. His subsequent confirmation followed a formal selection process, with Motsepe indicating that the position had been widely advertised and shortlisted applicants interviewed.
The decision gives Adamu a permanent mandate to lead CAF’s administrative machinery after several months in an interim capacity.
His previous responsibilities within the organisation provided exposure to the operational demands of African football, particularly the coordination of competitions across different countries, associations and stakeholders.
The General Secretary’s office is one of the most influential administrative positions in CAF. It serves as a link between the organisation’s leadership and its operational structures, ensuring that policies and strategic decisions are implemented.
Adamu’s appointment also places him in a long line of administrators who have occupied the influential office.
The position was held by Mourad Fahmy from 1961 to 1982, followed by his son, Mustapha Fahmy, who served from 1982 to 2010. Amr Fahmy, Mustapha’s son, later occupied the position between 2017 and 2019.
Adamu also comes from a family with a history in international football administration. His father, Amos Adamu, was a prominent Nigerian sports administrator who served on FIFA’s executive committee before receiving a ban in 2010 for breaching bribery regulations.
However, Samson Adamu’s appointment follows his own professional experience and progression through CAF’s administrative structure.
For Nigeria, his elevation represents an opportunity to strengthen the country’s presence in the leadership of African football. For CAF, the immediate challenge will be to translate his experience in competition management into effective administration, stronger institutional governance and improved delivery across the continent.
Adamu now takes on a broader responsibility at a critical time for African football, with expectations that the continental body will continue to improve its competitions, governance standards and global standing.
