President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, major milestone for the country’s football administration and international sports profile.
The approval was announced following a high-level meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe during the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi.
According to reports from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the meeting also had in attendance Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly is scheduled to take place in 2026 and is expected to bring together representatives from CAF’s 54 member associations, football administrators, and stakeholders from across the continent.
Nigeria will also host the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, one of Africa’s biggest football events that celebrates outstanding achievements by players, coaches, clubs, national teams, and football officials.
The decision is seen as a major boost for Nigerian football and sports tourism, as the country prepares to welcome football executives, athletes, media organizations, and fans from across Africa and beyond.
Nigeria has previously hosted the CAF Awards in cities such as Lagos and Abuja. The last time the country hosted the event was in 2017, when Algerian football star Riyad Mahrez won the Men’s Player of the Year award, while Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala claimed the women’s award.
More details, including the official host city and event schedule, are expected to be announced by CAF in the coming months.