Nigeria to Host 2026 CAF Awards Ceremony and 48th CAF General Assembly

Nigeria will host the 2026 CAF Awards Ceremony and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, President Bola Tinubu confirmed on Tuesday after a meeting with Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly is scheduled to hold in October 2026. It will be the first time Nigeria hosts both flagship CAF events in the same year, and it caps off what has quietly become a busy season of sports diplomacy for Abuja.

Nigeria beats Morocco to the hosting rights

Nigeria was not the only country in the running. According to Legit.ng, Nigeria effectively dethroned Morocco to secure the dual hosting arrangement. The specifics of the competition between bidders have not been made public, but the confirmation came directly from Tinubu’s meeting with Motsepe, giving the announcement clear official weight.

It is a meaningful win on the continental stage. The CAF Awards bring together Africa’s best footballers, coaches, and administrators every year for a high-profile ceremony that draws wide media coverage. Hosting it puts Nigeria at the centre of that conversation.

The broader context

The confirmation came while Tinubu was already attending the Africa Forward Summit, where he has been pushing for global financial reform and stronger African economic integration. The CAF hosting rights announcement was a side development to that trip, but it landed well back home.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to play a central coordination role in preparing for both events. No venue or specific dates beyond “October” for the General Assembly have been announced yet.

Sources: Complete Sports, Legit.ng, Pulse Sports