Nigeria to host 2026 CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos

Nigeria has been confirmed as the host nation for the 2026 CAF Awards, with Lagos selected to stage African football’s annual awards ceremony celebrating the continent’s outstanding players, coaches and teams.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the event will take place in Lagos, marking the first time Nigeria has hosted the awards since 2015.

The ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, one of the country’s leading cultural venues.

While the host nation, city and venue have now been confirmed, CAF has yet to announce the date for the ceremony.

Nigeria is also due to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in October, although it remains unclear whether both events will be staged during the same period.

The CAF Awards are held annually to honour the best performers in African football across both club and international competitions.

The ceremony traditionally recognises achievements in a wide range of categories, rewarding players, coaches, clubs and national teams for their performances over the previous year.

Subject to final confirmation from CAF, the 2026 edition is expected to include awards for the best men’s and women’s players, goalkeepers, coaches and young talents.

Honours are also anticipated for the top men’s and women’s interclub players, while clubs and national teams are expected to be recognised for their achievements during the year.

The ceremony is also expected to feature the award for the best goal of the year, alongside several other individual and team honours that celebrate excellence across African football.

The African Player of the Year prize is once again expected to be the headline award of the evening, recognising the continent’s outstanding footballer for the year.

The confirmation of Nigeria as host represents a return for the country after more than a decade, with Lagos preparing to welcome leading figures from across African football for one of the sport’s flagship annual events.

Further details, including the official date of the ceremony and the complete list of award categories, are expected to be announced by CAF at a later stage.