Nigeria’s Samson Adamu made history on Sunday as the first Nigerian to head the secretariat of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) (English: African Football Confederation).
He is stepping into the shoes of DR Congo’s Véron Mosengo-Omba, who stepped down from the position after mounting pressure and internal transition discussions. He was in office for five years.
Adamu’s appointment as acting Secretary General will run until the next General Assembly of the continental body names a substantive occupier of that strategic office.
Earlier this month, the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that it would host the 2026 General Assembly, whose date is yet to be announced.
Until Sunday’s development, Adamu was CAF’s Director of Competitions. His 73-year-old father, Dr. Amos Adamu, was also a seasoned football administrator at the national, continental and world levels.
Samson Adamu becomes become the eighth person to hold the seat at the confederation, which clocked 69 on 8 February, this year.
Adamu’s elevation is widely seen as a recognition of his growing influence and performance within CAF since joining the organisation in 2018 as Director of Competitions.
In that role, he replaced Mosengo-Omba and quickly established himself as a key figure in the organisation of major continental tournaments.
For Nigeria, his appointment represents a significant boost in representation at the highest administrative level of African football, reinforcing the country’s longstanding contribution to the development of the game on the continent.
Before his move to CAF, Adamu had built a strong reputation as an innovator in sports management, notably as the initiator and Chief Executive Officer of the internationally acclaimed Copa Lagos Futsal tournament, which attracted global attention and participation.
Since arriving at CAF, he has earned commendation for his efficiency and visibility, playing central roles in competition management and strategic coordination. His consistent performance reportedly made him a natural choice when discussions began over a replacement for Mosengo-Omba.
Adamu’s emergence underscores Nigeria’s continued relevance not only on the pitch but also in the corridors of power in African football governance.
Past General Secretaries of CAF (in reverse chronological order):
- Samson Adamu (Nigeria): Appointed Acting General Secretary on 29 March 2026.
- Véron Mosengo-Omba (DR Congo/Switzerland): March 2021 to March 2026.
- Abdelmounaim Bah (Morocco): Acting General Secretary from March 2020 to March 2021.
- Mouad Hajji (Morocco): April 2019 to March 2020.
- Amr Fahmy (Egypt): 2017 to 2019.
- Hicham El Amrani (Morocco): 2010 to 2017.
- Mustapha Fahmy (Egypt): Served for nearly 30 years (starting in 1961).
- Youssef Mohamad (Sudan): First General Secretary upon CAF’s foundation in 1957.
