BREAKING: Nigeria makes history as Samson Adamu lands top CAF administrative job after seven decades

Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu has reportedly been confirmed as the substantive general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking a historic breakthrough for Nigeria in African football leadership, Sports247.ng reports.

The development, reported on Thursday, October 29, 2026, would make Adamu the first Nigerian to secure the permanent position of CAF General Secretary since continental football’s governing body was established in 1957.

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Adamu’s confirmation comes seven months after his appointment as interim secretary general on March 29, following the resignation of Swiss-Congolese administrator Véron Mosengo-Omba, who had held the position since 2021.

The Nigerian football administrator initially joined the Cairo-based organization as Director of Competitions in 2018, overseeing major continental tournaments before moving up to Director of Tournaments and Events.

His extensive involvement in competition management, tournament planning and football administration made him a leading figure within the CAF operational structure.

Adamu’s emergence represents another significant milestone in his administrative career, placing him at the center of decision-making and the implementation of policies governing African football.

As Secretary General, he is responsible for supervising the daily operations of CAF, coordinating its administrative activities and ensuring the implementation of decisions made by the organization’s management.

Her responsibilities also include supporting the administration of continental competitions, including the African Cup of Nations, the African Women’s Cup of Nations and CAF interclub tournaments.

Before joining CAF, Adamu made significant contributions to the development of Nigerian football through the establishment of the COPA Lagos, an international beach soccer tournament that attracted teams from different parts of the world.

A graduate of the prestigious FIFA Master programme, Adamu has developed a professional career that combines sports management, competition organization and international football administration.

His promotion comes at a crucial period as CAF seeks to strengthen its governance structures, expand commercial opportunities and improve the organization of competitions across its 54 member associations.

While reports indicate that Adamu has secured the permanent appointment, the official CAF website still listed him as Acting Secretary-General at the time of publication, with formal confirmation from the continental body awaited.