Nigeria CAF Awards hosting gets presidential approval as Tinubu backs 2026 CAF Awards and CAF General Assembly bid

President Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.

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The approval was confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday by the Nigeria Football Federation following a meeting between Tinubu and CAF president Patrice Motsepe at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

Among those present at the meeting were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF president Amaju Pinnick and CAF acting general secretary Samson Adamu.

In the statement, the NFF disclosed that the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly would take place in October this year and would attract leading football administrators from across Africa.

“The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has approved Nigeria’s proposed hosting of the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football, as well as this year’s CAF Awards Ceremony,” the statement read.

The Nigeria CAF Awards Hosting decision is expected to strengthen the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading football destinations while boosting sports tourism and international visibility.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally gathers presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football officials from across the continent.

The CAF Awards ceremony remains the continent’s premier football celebration, recognising outstanding players, coaches and teams in a glamorous atmosphere.

The most recent CAF Awards ceremony was held in Rabat on November 19, 2025, with Morocco dominating several major categories.

Achraf Hakimi won the African Men’s Player of the Year award after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 titles.

Hakimi became the first Moroccan player to claim the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, finishing ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.

Morocco also claimed other top honours, with Yassine Bounou named Goalkeeper of the Year, Othmane Maamma winning Young Player of the Year and Ghizlane Chebbak emerging as Women’s Player of the Year.

Nigeria, however, maintained a commanding presence in the women’s categories.

Chiamaka Nnadozie successfully defended her Goalkeeper of the Year award, while the Nigeria women’s national football team won National Team of the Year following another impressive campaign.

Nigeria has previously hosted the CAF Awards on four occasions, with Lagos staging the most recent edition in January 2015 at the Eko Hotel and Suites.

At the 2015 ceremony, Yaya Touré won his fourth consecutive African Player of the Year award, equalling the record held by Samuel Eto’o.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was among the final three nominees after a brilliant season with Lille but finished behind Touré and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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The 2015 Lagos ceremony also marked a defining moment for Asisat Oshoala, who won her first Women’s Player of the Year award before going on to secure a historic six titles.