Nigeria has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 CAF Awards, with Lagos set to stage African football’s biggest annual awards ceremony.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that the event will be held at the newly renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, bringing together the continent’s top players, coaches, administrators and football stakeholders.
The governing body is yet to announce the official date of the ceremony or confirm the full list of award categories.
Nigeria lands major CAF event
The announcement further strengthens Nigeria’s position in African football administration, with the country also scheduled to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in October.
It will be the first time in almost a decade that Nigeria hosts the CAF Awards. The country’s previous edition was held in Abuja in January 2017, following the 2016 football calendar, where Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez won the Men’s Player of the Year prize and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award.
The annual ceremony honours outstanding achievements in African football across both the men’s and women’s game, with awards typically recognising the best player, goalkeeper, coach, young player, club and national team, among other categories.
Osimhen, Lookman could shine on home soil
Hosting the ceremony could provide a special occasion for Nigerian football if Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman are shortlisted for the Men’s Player of the Year award.
Both players enjoyed impressive campaigns during the past season and are expected to be among the leading contenders when CAF unveils its final nominees.
Osimhen continued his prolific goalscoring form at club level, while Lookman maintained his consistency with another influential season at Atlético Madrid.
Only six Nigerian players have previously won the prestigious African Player of the Year award, and the 2026 ceremony presents another opportunity for the country to celebrate one of its stars on home soil.
CAF is expected to release additional details on the event, including the ceremony date, nomination process and confirmed award categories in the coming months.