By Isa Abdul, Abuja

A Nigerian, Samson Adamu, has been appointed the new General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The appointment was disclosed by CAF on Sunday, on its website following a comprehensive recruitment process conducted by the continental football governing body.

Reportedly, Adamu had been serving as acting General Secretary since March, following the resignation of Veron Mosengo-Omba.

Mosengo-Omba subsequently became president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The appointment took a competitive recruitment process, according to sources quoting CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, in the statement on its website as saying that the position was widely advertised and several candidates interviewed.

Adamu has worked with CAF for eight years, serving first as Director of Competitions and later as Director of Tournaments and Events.

“Adamu brings extensive experience in African football administration, having joined CAF in 2018 as Director of Competitions before subsequently serving as Director of Tournaments and Events.

“He has played a leading role in the delivery of several major continental competitions, including CAF’s flagship tournament, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations,” Motsepe was quoted as saying.

Adamu brings considerable institutional knowledge and experience to his new role as a graduate of the FIFA Master programme in International Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.

Adamu is expected to oversee CAF’s day-to-day administration and support the implementation of its strategic priorities.

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

The appointment places Adamu among a distinguished line of CAF General Secretaries, including members of Egypt’s Fahmy family.

Mourad Fahmy served from 1961 to 1982, followed by his son, Mustapha Fahmy, from 1982 to 2010, and grandson, Amr Fahmy, who held the position from 2017 to 2019.

By Felix Umande

England captain Harry Kane and Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas have been crowned winners of the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, 2026.

It was a historic night as the gala was staged outside France for the first time since its inception in 1956, moving to London to honour Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner, on the award’s 70th anniversary. The event was co-organised by France Football and UEFA and hosted by Thierry Henry and Kate Scott.

Kane won the Men’s Ballon d’Or after a phenomenal 2025-26 season, scoring 73 goals in 65 competitive matches for Bayern Munich and England. He led Bayern to a league and cup double and England to a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup.

The 33-year-old becomes the first Englishman to win football’s most prestigious individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001, joining an elite list that includes Sir Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.

“It being here in London as well has made it extra special. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was really tough this year,” an emotional Kane said as the Palladium erupted with chants of “Harry, Harry”.

Kane also claimed the Gerd Müller Trophy for Men’s Best Striker. He beat Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, who finished second, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who finished third.

Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time, after her previous wins in 2021 and 2022, joining compatriot Aitana Bonmati on three titles.

The 32-year-old captained Barcelona Femení to a quadruple — Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Spanish Super Cup and Women’s Champions League — scoring 26 goals and registering 15 assists in 53 matches, before completing a summer move to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses.

“I don’t know what to say. This prize is for Barcelona. That so many Barça players were nominated says a lot about the season we had. It was my honour to be your captain,” she said.

She finished ahead of Poland striker Ewa Pajor and Jamaica’s Khadija Shaw.

Spain dominated the night, claiming eight of 13 awards.

Full list of winners at Ballon d’Or 2026:

• Men’s Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England)
• Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona / Spain)
• Kopa Trophy – Men’s Young Talent: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain) — for a record third consecutive year
• Women’s Young Talent: Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
• Men’s Coach of the Year – Johan Cruyff Trophy: Luis de la Fuente (Spain) — after leading Spain to World Cup glory
• Women’s Coach of the Year: Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
• Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Yashin Trophy: Unai Simón (Athletic Club / Spain)
• Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Cata Coll (Barcelona / Spain)
• Men’s Best Striker – Gerd Müller Trophy: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England)
• Women’s Best Striker – Gerd Müller Trophy: Charlyn Corral (Pachuca / Mexico)
• Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain
• Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona Femení
• Socrates Award – Humanitarian: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal / England)

The assessment period for the 2026 awards ran from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026, including international competitions, with winners decided by specialist journalists voting for their top 10 players.

Kane succeeds Ousmane Dembélé, who won the 2025 edition in Paris.

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has received FIFA’s endorsement of the Normalisation Committee to run Nigeria’s football administration pending fresh elections into the federation’s Executive Committee.

The approval was conveyed on Thursday by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, putting to rest months of uncertainty over the leadership model for the Nigerian football following the departure of former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and other board members.

FIFA through its Secretary-General, Mattias Grafström, wrote a letter addressed to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, saying FIFA in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would fill the committee with a suitable number of members.

“The normalisation committee shall consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and CAF as soon as possible,” the letter stated.

FIFA said the committee’s mandate would end once it had completed its assigned responsibilities, but set 31 May 2027 as the final deadline for the conclusion of its work.

The letter further stressed that members of the committee would not be eligible to contest any of the positions to be filled during the forthcoming NFF elections. The letter stated:

“None of the members of the normalisation committee will be eligible for the positions to be filled during the upcoming NFF elections under any circumstances.”

The appointment is expected to pave the way for an interim administrative arrangement and fresh elections to restore an elected leadership to the NFF.

Until the committee is appointed, the NFF Secretariat will continue to handle the federation’s day-to-day administration and the running of football in the country.

The development follows consultations between FIFA and CAF officials and Nigerian football stakeholders over the way forward for the country’s embattled football administration.

The composition of the committee and the details of its specific responsibilities are expected to be announced by FIFA and CAF in due course.