Nigeria's Lagos Set to Welcome Next Year's CAF Awards Ceremony

Lagos has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 CAF Awards, Africa's most prestigious football gala, according to Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, who made the announcement on Saturday.

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The event will be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Iganmu, as disclosed by Fatodu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.

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The CAF Awards ceremony is a celebration of outstanding achievements in African football, recognising the continent's best footballers, coaches, clubs, national teams, and administrators.

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By hosting the awards, Nigeria is set to further enhance its reputation as a major destination for continental sporting events, underscoring its significant role in promoting African football, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

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The annual CAF Awards is expected to draw some of the continent's biggest football stars and stakeholders, acknowledging exceptional performances in club and international competitions over the previous year.

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The selection of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts as the venue adds another high-profile event to the iconic Lagos facility's calendar.

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The cultural centre, known for its distinctive police cap-shaped design, has become a symbol of Nigeria's cultural and creative rebirth, following its transformation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

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The 2026 CAF Awards will honour the continent's top football talents in several categories, including Men's Player of the Year, Women's Player of the Year, and Interclub Player of the Year.

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Other categories include Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year.

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Nigeria was previously announced as the host of the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled to take place in October, further solidifying the country's position as a major destination for continental sporting events, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

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Nigeria has a history of hosting the CAF Awards, having previously done so in 2015 at the Eko Hotels and Convention Centre, and in January 2017 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

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Riyad Mahrez of Morocco was named Men's Player of the Year at the 2017 ceremony, beating out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund, and Sadio Mané of Senegal and Liverpool, who finished second and third, respectively.

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Asisat Oshoala, former captain of the Super Falcons, also emerged as the Women's Player of the Year at the 2017 ceremony.