Nigerian football administrator, Samson Adamu, has been appointed the General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, becoming one of the most influential figures in the administration of football on the continent.

CAF announced the appointment in a statement published on its official website on Sunday, following what it described as a comprehensive recruitment process involving the advertisement of the position and interviews with several candidates.

Adamu had been serving in an acting capacity since March following the resignation of his predecessor, Veron Mosengo-Omba, who subsequently became president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, said the appointment followed a competitive selection process in which several qualified candidates were considered before Adamu emerged.

Adamu joined CAF in 2018 as Director of Competitions before progressing to the position of Director of Tournaments and Events.

During his eight years with the continental football governing body, he played significant roles in organising and delivering major African football competitions, including the prestigious TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

His experience in tournament management and football administration is expected to support CAF’s institutional operations and strategic objectives.

Adamu is also a graduate of the FIFA Master programme in International Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, which provides specialised training in international sports administration.

As General Secretary, he will oversee CAF’s day-to-day administrative operations, coordinate organisational activities and work closely with the leadership in implementing policies and programmes aimed at developing football across Africa.

He is the son of Amos Adamu, a former Director of Sports in Nigeria’s then Ministry of Sports and a former member of the FIFA Executive Committee.

His appointment also draws attention to the history of CAF’s General Secretariat, which was previously held by members of Egypt’s Fahmy family.

Mourad Fahmy served as General Secretary from 1961 to 1982, followed by his son, Mustapha Fahmy, who held the position from 1982 to 2010. His grandson, Amr Fahmy, also served in the role between 2017 and 2019.

Adamu’s appointment places a Nigerian in one of the most influential administrative positions within African football’s governing body, marking a significant development for Nigeria’s representation in international football administration.