Samson Adamu Confirmed as First Nigerian Substantive CAF General Secretary

By Trending9ja Staff • November 8, 2026 • 1 min read

Samson Adamu has been officially confirmed as the substantive General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, Vanguard reports. His appointment makes him the first Nigerian to hold the top administrative role since the continental body was founded in 1957.

Adamu, the son of former sports administrator Dr. Amos Adamu, previously assumed the role in an acting capacity on March 29, 2026, following the exit of Véron Mosengo-Omba. He originally joined the organization in 2018, holding key roles including Director of Competitions and subsequently Director of Tournaments and Events.

Prior to his work with the African football authority, Adamu spent roughly ten years at Kinetic Sport Management, where he contributed to creating the Copa Lagos beach soccer event. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Business Management from the American University of Paris and graduated from the FIFA Master program in 2009.

During his tenure as acting head of administration, Adamu handled the consultation concerning the schedule of the Africa Cup of Nations. Acting on directions from CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, he sent an official notice on October 23, 2026, requesting all 54 member federations to submit opinions on whether the tournament should run every two or four years.

Following that survey, the executive committee of the organisation voted unanimously on October 29, 2026, to maintain the traditional two-year competition structure. Reacting to his confirmation, former Super Eagles player Paul Okoku said Adamu's career progression should inspire Nigeria to invest more in training sports executives, coaches, and former athletes for administrative leadership.

Sources: Vanguard