Nigeria has secured a major continental sporting victory after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the country’s bid to host two of African football’s most important events—the 2026 CAF Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
The announcement, made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), followed high-level engagements between African football leaders at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where Nigeria’s delegation held strategic discussions with CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
The decision places Nigeria at the centre of African football governance in 2026, with Lagos or another major city expected to welcome presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, zonal representatives, and top administrators for the General Assembly in October.
The CAF Awards—often described as African football’s “night of stars”—will also bring global attention to Nigeria as the continent’s finest players, coaches, and football personalities are honoured.
Key Nigerian figures involved in securing the bid included Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, CAF Special Adviser Amaju Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
For Nigeria, the dual hosting rights represent more than just sporting prestige—they signal renewed confidence in the country’s capacity to stage high-level international events and deepen its influence within African football administration.
Football stakeholders say the development could also unlock fresh opportunities in sports tourism, investment, and international partnerships, while reinforcing Nigeria’s status as one of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses.
The Nigeria Football Federation described the approval as a “landmark achievement” that reflects growing continental trust in the country’s organisational capacity.
With the 2026 events now secured, attention shifts to preparations expected to define how Nigeria presents itself to the rest of Africa—and the world—on one of football’s biggest continental stages.
Nigeria to host CAF Awards, General Assembly in 2026
