Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), has hailed the confirmation of Samson Adamu as the substantive General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on 29 March 2026, a milestone that makes him the first Nigerian to occupy the top operational post in the 70‑year‑old continental body.
The Confederation of African Football, founded in 1957, governs the sport across 54 member associations and organises flagship competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations. Until now, the organisation’s senior executive roles have been filled by officials from other African nations, making Adamu’s appointment a historic breakthrough for Nigeria.
The appointment follows Adamu’s earlier tenure as CAF’s Director of Competitions and later as Director of Tournaments and Events. His elevation comes after he served as Acting General Secretary following the resignation of Swiss‑Congolese official Veron Mosengo‑Omba. The confirmation marks the inaugural instance of a Nigerian serving as the organisation’s chief operating officer. Mohammed described the development as a testament to Nigerian leadership capacity on both continental and global stages.
What role does Samson Adamu now hold?
Samson Adamu will assume the duties of General Secretary, the chief executive position responsible for overseeing CAF’s day‑to‑day administration, policy implementation and coordination of its competitions across Africa.
What positions did he occupy before this appointment?
Prior to this promotion, Adamu joined CAF in Cairo as Director of Competitions, where he supervised the scheduling and regulation of continental tournaments. He was subsequently promoted to Director of Tournaments and Events, a role that placed him in charge of organising major CAF fixtures such as the Africa Cup of Nations.
How did the FCT FA chairman react?
“This is a proud and significant moment not only for Mr. Adamu personally, but for Nigeria and Nigerian football as a whole,” Mohammed said. “His elevation to such an important position within African football reflects the quality, experience, and leadership capacity that Nigerians continue to demonstrate on the continental and global stage. At a time when African football is experiencing tremendous growth and transformation, this appointment presents another opportunity for Nigeria to contribute meaningfully to the development, professionalism, and global competitiveness of the game across our continent,” he added.
Samson Adamu is also the son of Dr. Amos Adamu, a veteran Nigerian football administrator who previously served as CAF Vice‑President and as head of the Nigeria Football Federation, underscoring a family legacy in continental football governance.
Mohammed concluded by wishing Adamu a successful tenure, urging him to lead with integrity, innovation and collaboration, and praying that his term would leave a lasting impact on African football.