The newly appointed Acting General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Samson Adamu, has expressed a strong desire to leave a lasting legacy in his role as the chief operating officer of football on the African continent.
Adamu was named Acting General Secretary on Sunday, March 29, 2026, during a CAF Executive Committee meeting held at the Giza Palace Hotel in Cairo. His appointment was proposed by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, and subsequently ratified by the committee.
His passion for football dates back to his early years. Fifteen years ago, he launched COPA Lagos, an ambitious invitational beach soccer tournament that attracted top teams from around the world to Lagos. The competition stood out for its high standards in organization, logistics, marketing, officiating, and entertainment. Its success later contributed to Nigeria hosting the 2016 CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations.
Adamu’s dedication, professionalism, and strong interpersonal skills paved the way for his rise within CAF. He began his career at the Cairo-based organization as Director of Competitions before being promoted to Director of Tournaments and Events.
“I am elated by this appointment. I am determined to serve African football with humility, integrity, and professionalism,” Adamu told thenff.com.
With this appointment, Adamu becomes the first Nigerian—and indeed the first West African—to occupy the position in CAF’s 69-year history.
He is the son of Dr Amos Adamu, a prominent figure in Nigerian and global sports administration for over two decades. Dr Adamu served as Sole Administrator of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), now the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in the early 1990s, and later as Director of Sports Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.
In 2006, he secured a seat on the FIFA Executive Committee and also served as Director General of the National Sports Commission. His contributions include significant roles in Nigeria’s hosting of the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup) and the country’s co-hosting of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana.
