Nigeria is set to become the epicentre of African football in 2026, hosting both the prestigious CAF Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly. This marks the first time Nigeria will host the awards since 2017, ending Morocco's four-year run from 2022 to 2025.
CAF Awards and General Assembly coming to Nigeria
The 48th CAF General Assembly will convene in Abuja in October 2026, while the CAF Awards gala will light up Lagos in December 2026. The deal was finalised at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi following direct negotiations between President Bola Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe. Nigeria's delegation included NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Nigeria's history with the CAF Awards
Nigeria has hosted the CAF Awards several times before – in Lagos in 2008 and 2013, and in Abuja in 2015 and 2017. Now, nearly a decade later, the country is preparing to host both the 2026 CAF Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly. Often described as the biggest night in African football, the awards will crown the African Player of the Year (Men and Women), Coach of the Year, and top national teams.
Abuja and Lagos to host major CAF events
The capital city of Abuja will welcome the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in October 2026, bringing together leaders of all 54 African football associations and top FIFA officials. The 2026 CAF Awards will be held in Lagos in December 2026, fitting into Nigeria's end-of-the-year Detty December festivities. This dual-city approach showcases Nigeria's diversity and infrastructure.
Impact on Nigerian football
With the CAF Awards returning to Nigeria, fans hope this will kick off a revitalisation of the Nigerian football ecosystem, which has suffered from mismanagement and lack of investment. Nigeria has not hosted a FIFA football tournament since the 2009 U-17 FIFA Men's World Cup. The 2026 CAF Awards are scheduled for December in Lagos, and fans are eager to see a Nigerian footballer make the podium again.
