Nigeria Wins Hosting Rights for 2026 CAF Awards as Ceremony Leaves Morocco After Four Years

Nigeria is set to become the center of African football in 2026 after securing the rights to host both the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, ending Morocco’s four-year run as host of the continent’s biggest football gala.

The announcement marks a major victory for Nigerian football administrators and government officials, who finalized the deal during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi following high-level talks involving President Bola Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

According to details released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will take place in Abuja in October 2026, while the CAF Awards ceremony will be staged in Lagos in December 2026.

The CAF Awards, often described as the “Oscars of African Football,” celebrate the continent’s top players, coaches, clubs, and national teams each year. The ceremony has been hosted in Morocco since 2022, with cities such as Rabat and Marrakech serving as venues for the annual gala.

Nigeria has a strong history with the awards, previously hosting editions in Lagos and Abuja in 2008, 2013, 2015, and 2017. The 2026 edition will mark the country’s return as host for the first time in nearly a decade.

Officials say the decision to split the events between Abuja and Lagos is intended to showcase Nigeria’s infrastructure, cultural diversity, and capacity to host major international sporting gatherings. The CAF General Assembly will bring together football leaders from all 54 African football associations alongside FIFA officials and continental administrators to discuss key issues shaping African football.

Meanwhile, the Lagos-hosted CAF Awards ceremony is expected to attract global attention as Africa’s top football stars compete for major honours including African Player of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and National Team of the Year.

Nigeria’s successful bid comes at a time when the country is seeking to re-establish itself as a major destination for international football events. The country has not hosted a FIFA tournament since the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and has faced criticism in recent years over the state of its football infrastructure and domestic league management.

Supporters of the bid believe hosting the CAF Awards could help revitalize Nigeria’s football image and create renewed investment opportunities within the sport. Analysts also point to Lagos’ growing reputation as a major entertainment and tourism hub, particularly during the country’s globally recognized “Detty December” festivities, which align closely with the timing of the awards ceremony.

The negotiations reportedly involved key Nigerian football figures including NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.

The move also represents another shift in CAF’s broader hosting strategy, after Morocco emerged as one of Africa’s leading football event destinations in recent years by staging multiple CAF competitions and international qualifiers.

For Nigerian football fans, however, the return of the CAF Awards is being viewed as a symbolic moment — one that could place the country back at the center of African football’s biggest conversations and celebrations.