Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), becoming the first Nigerian to hold the position in the organisation’s more than 70-year history.
Adamu’s appointment was confirmed on Sunday after it was proposed by the CAF Executive Committee and ratified by the Congress during its meeting at the Giza Palace Hotel.
Before his new role, Adamu served as CAF’s director of tournaments and events, where he played a key role in organising major continental competitions. His elevation comes at a critical time for the governing body of African football.
Adamu replaces Veron Mossengo-Omba, the Swiss-Congolese administrator who stepped down from the position on Sunday after facing mounting criticism over his leadership.
Mossengo-Omba announced his departure as a retirement, saying he wanted to focus on personal projects after more than three decades in international football administration.
“After over 30 years of an international professional career dedicated to promoting an ideal form of football that brings people together, educates, and creates opportunities for hope, I have decided to step down from my position as Secretary General of CAF to devote myself to more personal projects,” he said in a statement.
He added that he was leaving the organisation with peace of mind after addressing allegations and controversies that had surrounded his tenure.
However, CAF President Patrice Motsepe offered a different explanation for Mossengo-Omba’s exit, revealing that the administrator had been asked by the Democratic Republic of Congo to support football development in the country.
Mossengo-Omba’s resignation follows criticism over his continued stay in office beyond CAF’s mandatory retirement age of 63 and calls for greater accountability within the organisation.
Reports also suggest he may seek the presidency of the Fédération Congolaise de Football Association in the coming months, a move that could potentially position him for CAF’s top leadership role in the future, although Motsepe has dismissed speculation about any immediate leadership changes.
With his new appointment, Adamu will oversee CAF’s day-to-day operations during a period of heightened scrutiny and reform within African football’s governing body. Analysts say his leadership will be crucial in restoring confidence and strengthening governance across the continent’s football administration.
