Vice President Kashim Shettima has congratulated Samson Adamu on his appointment as the new General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, describing his emergence as a landmark achievement for Nigerian sports administration.
Shettima gave the charge on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when he received Adamu and a delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Vice President described Adamu’s appointment as evidence of Nigeria’s capacity to produce leaders capable of occupying influential positions in international sports administration.
He urged the new CAF General Secretary to use his position to advance African football while promoting and protecting Nigeria’s interests within the continental football governing body.
Conveying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill, Shettima described Adamu as a role model for young Nigerians and encouraged him to discharge his responsibilities with integrity, diligence and national pride.
He also emphasised the unifying power of football, noting that whenever Nigeria competes internationally, the sport brings citizens together beyond ethnic, religious and political differences.
According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s sporting achievements are built not only on the talents of athletes but also on the contributions of coaches, administrators, scouts and institutions responsible for discovering and developing sporting talents.
Shettima recalled the contributions of Nigerian football legends, including Rashidi Yekini, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Finidi George, highlighting the importance of the structures and individuals behind their success.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, thanked the Federal Government for its support for sports development and international engagements.
Dikko described Adamu’s appointment as a significant milestone for Nigeria and disclosed that the country had secured Federal Government approval to host the CAF General Assembly and CAF Awards in November and December 2026, respectively.
In his response, Samson Adamu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Federal Government, describing his appointment as a historic moment for Nigeria.
He noted that he was the first Nigerian to occupy the position in CAF’s 70-year history.
Adamu, who previously served as CAF’s Director of Competitions, pledged to deploy his experience towards strengthening the organisation’s administration and advancing football development across Africa.
His appointment, announced on November 1, 2026, places a Nigerian at the centre of the continental football body’s day-to-day administration.
The Federal Government says the development reflects Nigeria’s growing participation in international sports leadership, while expectations are high for Adamu to contribute to the future of African football.
