Top Nigerian diplomat, Akpenpuun gets CAF assignment for WAFU B U-17 AFCON
By George Aluo
Retired Nigerian elite football referee and diplomat, Mr. Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, has been appointed as the Assistant General Coordinator for the 2026 West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.According to Daily Trust report the tournament is scheduled to run from October 10 to 23, 2026, bringing together the region’s top young football talents as they compete for qualification to the U-17 AFCON.
His appointment by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was confirmed in a letter dated September 30, 2026, and signed by the Executive Director of WAFU Zone B, Philip Tchere.
The letter read in part: “We have the pleasure to inform you that you have been designated as Assistant General Coordinator for the WAFU-B U-17 AFCON Qualifiers 2026, to be held from October 10th to 23rd in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.”
Akpenpuun, an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, is a prominent figure in Nigerian football administration.
He previously served as a protocol officer and a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Protocol Committee.
Since 2023, the Benue state born officer has been deployed on a strategic foreign mission, serving as the Immigration Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
This appointment marks another recognition of Akpenpuun’s extensive experience and ongoing contributions to football administration and competition organisation within the African football community.
In his role as Assistant General Coordinator, he will work closely with CAF and WAFU-B officials to ensure the seamless coordination and successful delivery of the qualifying tournament in Ouagadougou.
