Samson Adamu has been confirmed as CAF secretary general, becoming the first Nigerian to hold the position permanently since the body was founded in 1957, according to ESPN.
Adamu had been acting in the role since 29 March, when he replaced Swiss-Congolese Veron Mosengo-Omba at the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretariat. The confirmation, reported by ESPN, makes him the first national of his country to settle permanently in the chair.
The confirmation crowns an internal rise that began in 2018, the year he joined CAF. The Nigerian official climbed the ranks of the institution before taking charge of its administration.
From competitions to the general secretariat
Adamu knows CAF’s workings well. He arrived in 2018 as director of competitions, before being promoted to director of tournaments and events, then taking over the general secretariat.
His career has also taken him beyond African football. He studied business management and IT at the American University of Paris, before earning the FIFA Master in 2009. He also spent a decade as a director at Kinetic Sport Management.
Copa Lagos, an initiative to his name
His name is also linked to beach soccer: he founded the Copa Lagos tournament in 2011. That organising experience adds to a career spent in the private sector before he joined CAF.
NFF and Eswatini welcome the appointment
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has welcomed the appointment. Its acting secretary general, Emmanuel Ikpeme, pledged his support to the new head of the general secretariat: “This is, indeed, very good news. I am so happy for Samson Adamu on his confirmation and I know he is going to make Nigeria and Africa proud,” he said, according to ESPN.
The Eswatini Football Association also sent its congratulations to Samson Adamu, EFA reports.
The available information does not specify the date his role at the head of the general secretariat takes effect, nor the priorities he intends to pursue.