Nigeria’s Samson Adamu has been appointed caretaker General Secretary of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), marking a significant administrative shift within African football’s governing body.
The announcement was made by CAF President Patrice Motsepe during a press conference in Cairo following a meeting of the organisation’s executive committee.
Adamu’s appointment comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership and operational efficiency within CAF.
He succeeds Veron Mosengo-Omba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is stepping down after serving as General Secretary since March 2021.
Mosengo-Omba’s tenure had recently come under scrutiny, particularly over his continued stay in office beyond CAF’s mandatory retirement age of 63.
Despite facing allegations from some staff members regarding an alleged toxic work environment, an internal investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Adamu, who previously served as CAF’s Director of Competitions since 2018, brings extensive experience to the role.
During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in overseeing the organisation of major continental tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and various CAF inter-club competitions.
His appointment is widely seen as a strategic move aimed at ensuring continuity and stability within CAF’s administrative structure, especially at a time when the body is implementing reforms to enhance governance and restore confidence in its operations.
Observers believe Adamu’s deep institutional knowledge and experience in competition management position him well to steer the secretariat on an interim basis while CAF continues consultations on a substantive appointment.
