Tinubu approves Nigeria’s bid to host 2026 CAF Awards

President Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 CAF Awards as the country steps up efforts to stage two major continental football events.

The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation, which also disclosed that Tinubu endorsed Nigeria’s proposal to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly later this year.

The president announced the decisions during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi after meeting with Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football.

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

Scheduled for October, the CAF Ordinary General Assembly will bring together key stakeholders in African football, including leaders of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of its six zonal unions, and senior football administrators from across the continent.

The CAF Awards remains one of African football’s biggest annual events, celebrating outstanding players, coaches and contributors across the continent.

Nigeria last hosted the ceremony on January 6, 2017, when Riyad Mahrez claimed the men’s Player of the Year award, while Asisat Oshoala won the women’s category.

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony was held in Rabat, with Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak emerging as winners of the men’s and women’s African Footballer of the Year awards respectively.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won the men’s African Footballer of the Year award in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Oshoala also claimed the women’s award in 2023, extending her record to six titles.

CAF is expected to announce the final host city for both events in the coming months.