Edi Umoh
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Nigerian football administrator Samson Adamu as its Acting Secretary General, marking a historic milestone for Nigeria within the continent’s football leadership structure.
Mr Adamu’s appointment, confirmed on Sunday, makes him the first Nigerian to occupy the role since CAF was established over seven decades ago.
Adamu, who previously served as CAF’s director of tournaments and events, takes over from Swiss-Congolese Veron Mossengo-Omba, who resigned on Sunday amid growing criticism over his leadership and the controversial stripping of Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
The appointment was proposed by the CAF Executive Committee and ratified by the Congress at its meeting on Sunday at the Giza Palace Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.
Adamu will now oversee CAF’s operations during a turbulent period for African football.
Mossengo-Omba had announced his departure as a retirement, citing a desire to focus on personal projects after more than 30 years 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,” Mossengo-Omba said in a statement.
“Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever.”
His resignation follows criticism over his extended stay beyond CAF’s mandatory retirement age of 63 and calls for greater accountability in the organisation.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe contradicted Mossengo-Omba’s claim of retirement, revealing that he had been asked by the Democratic Republic of Congo to assist with football development there.
Reports indicate Mossengo-Omba may seek the presidency of DR Congo’s football federation in the coming months, potentially positioning himself for CAF’s top post should Motsepe step down, though the CAF president has denied any such plans.
Adamu now assumes responsibility for guiding CAF through a period of heightened scrutiny and organisational reform, with the task of restoring confidence in the governance of African football.
