Samson Adamu Eyes Lasting Legacy as CAF Acting General Secretary

The newly appointed Acting General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Samson Adamu, has expressed a strong commitment to leaving a lasting impact on African football as he assumes one of the most influential administrative roles in the sport on the continent.

Adamu was officially named to the position on March 29, 2026, during a CAF Executive Committee meeting held in Cairo. His appointment was proposed by CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, and subsequently ratified by the committee.

A lifelong football enthusiast, Adamu’s passion for the game dates back to his youth. Fifteen years ago, he founded COPA Lagos, an international invitational beach soccer tournament held in Lagos. The competition gained global recognition for its high standards in organization, entertainment, and professionalism, ultimately contributing to Nigeria hosting the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in 2016.

Adamu’s dedication, work ethic, and strong interpersonal skills propelled his rise within CAF’s administrative ranks. He began as Director of Competitions before advancing to Director of Tournaments and Events, positions in which he played key roles in organizing major continental competitions.

Speaking after his appointment, Adamu expressed gratitude and determination: he pledged to serve African football with humility, integrity, and professionalism.

His elevation is historic—he becomes the first Nigerian and West African to hold the position in CAF’s 69-year history.

Adamu is also the son of Amos Adamu, a prominent figure in sports administration in Nigeria and internationally. Dr. Adamu previously served as Sole Administrator of the Nigeria Football Association (now the Nigeria Football Federation), as well as Director of Sports Development in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Over the years, Dr. Adamu held several influential roles, including membership of the CAF Executive Committee and the FIFA Executive Committee. He also played a significant role in organizing major sporting events such as the All-Africa Games 2003 hosted in Nigeria, the FIFA World Youth Championship 1999, and the co-hosted Africa Cup of Nations 2000 with Ghana.

With his appointment, expectations are high that Samson Adamu will help drive innovation, professionalism, and growth across African football.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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