National Teams
Lagos to host 2026 CAF Awards
Lagos has been selected to host the 2026 CAF Awards, marking the return of African football’s most prestigious awards ceremony to Nigeria for the first time in a decade.
The annual event is expected to be staged at the newly transformed Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, reaffirming Nigeria’s growing role in continental football administration and major sporting events.
The last time Nigeria hosted the CAF Awards was for the 2016 edition, which took place in Abuja in January 2017. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala were crowned the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year respectively.
Hosting the 2026 ceremony represents another significant milestone for Nigerian football, with the country also set to welcome the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in October.
The awards could also provide a memorable occasion for Nigerian fans, with Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman expected to be among the leading contenders for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
Osimhen, who won the honour in 2023, will be aiming to reclaim the crown following another impressive campaign, while Lookman is in contention to regain the title after being named Africa’s best player in 2024.
However, the Nigerian duo are expected to face stiff competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande, and Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo.
In addition to the Men’s Player of the Year award, the CAF Awards will recognise outstanding achievements in several other categories, including Women’s Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year.
CAF has yet to announce the official date for the ceremony, although it is expected to take place in December.
