CAF confirms Samson Adamu as first Nigerian General Secretary

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed Samson Adamu as its substantive General Secretary, making history as the first Nigerian to occupy the position since the continental football governing body was founded in 1957.

The confirmation by the CAF executive committee came after his initial appointment as a placeholder in March. He assumed the interim role after the sudden resignation of the former Swiss-Congolese official, Veron Mosengo-Omba.

Prior to this elevation, Adamu served as CAF’s Director of Competitions. In that capacity, he managed the organisation of major continental tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the CAF Champions League.

In his new office as General Secretary, Adamu will take charge of the day-to-day administration and legal matters of the organisation. The office is widely regarded as the engine room of African football, holding responsibility for implementing the resolutions of the executive committee.

The Nigerian sports administrator holds a FIFA Master’s degree in Management, Law, and Humanities of Sport. He commenced his formal journey in football administration by establishing the popular, though now-defunct, Copa Lagos beach soccer tournament in the early 2010s.