Lagos has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, marking Nigeria’s return as the venue for one of African football’s most prestigious annual ceremonies.
The announcement was confirmed by the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Lekan Fatodu, who disclosed that the awards ceremony will be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos. The venue, formerly known as the National Theatre, has undergone extensive renovation and is expected to host the continent’s top football stars and officials.
While CAF has confirmed Nigeria as the host nation and Lagos as the host city, the continental football governing body is yet to announce the official date for the event.
The CAF Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in African football, recognising the continent’s best male and female players, coaches, clubs, national teams and other contributors to the sport over the past year.
Nigeria’s hosting of the awards follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the country’s successful bid to stage both the 2026 CAF Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, another major event on the African football calendar. The General Assembly is expected to take place later this year, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a key destination for continental sporting events.
Ahead of the events, a five-member CAF delegation recently visited Nigeria to inspect facilities proposed for both the General Assembly and the awards ceremony, as part of the organisation’s preparations for the twin events.
Nigeria has previously hosted the CAF Awards on several occasions, and the 2026 edition is expected to attract football administrators, players, coaches, media professionals and dignitaries from across Africa, further boosting Lagos’ profile as a leading destination for international sporting and cultural events.
