CAF delegation to carry out final Nigeria venue inspection ahead of 2026 events

A 15-man delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will arrive in Nigeria on Friday for a second and final inspection of facilities prepared for the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards.

The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly is scheduled to take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday, 21st November. The 2026 CAF Awards, described as the biggest football awards ceremony on the African continent, will be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos on Monday, 7th December.

The CAF delegation will be led by the organisation’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa. It will arrive in Lagos on Friday afternoon before beginning a programme of further assessments and meetings with key institutions involved in staging the events.

In Lagos, the team is due to hold detailed discussions with senior officials at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Eko Hotel & Suites and Murtala Muhammed International Airport. It will also meet representatives of the Lagos State Government.

The delegation will then travel to Abuja, where it will inspect the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Transcorp Hilton Hotel and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. It is also scheduled to pay courtesy visits to the Chairman and Director General of the National Sports Commission.

A six-man Nigeria Football Federation team, headed by Dr Ademola Olajire, will accompany the CAF officials during the inspections in both Lagos and Abuja.

The visit follows CAF’s first inspection, which took place from 31st July to 4th August. During that visit, CAF officials met executives from the institutions and agencies expected to contribute to the organisation of the two events in Lagos and Abuja.

Those discussions resulted in an agreement to maintain regular communication between the parties. The aim is to establish a shared understanding and reach the necessary agreements to ensure the events are delivered in a seamless, innovative and futuristic manner.

The final inspection will therefore provide CAF with a further opportunity to assess the venues, accommodation, airport facilities and security arrangements ahead of the General Assembly and awards ceremony.