NIGERIA SET TO HOST CAF AWARDS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigeria is set to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, bringing some of Africa’s biggest football personalities and administrators to the country.

According to a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Nigeria’s bid during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, after a meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

In attendance at the meeting were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.

The NFF said the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly is expected to hold in October this year and will bring together top football administrators from across Africa.

The gathering usually features presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions, and other senior football officials on the continent.

Meanwhile the CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as the biggest celebration of African football because it honours the continent’s best players, coaches, and teams in a colourful and prestigious event.

The last CAF Awards ceremony was held in Rabat, Morocco, on November 19, 2025, and Morocco dominated several of the major categories.

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi won the African Men’s Player of the Year award after helping Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League and the French Ligue 1 title. He succeeded Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who won the award the previous year.