By Adesakin Adefemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light for Nigeria to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
The approval was confirmed on Tuesday in a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation following Tinubu’s meeting with CAF leadership in Nairobi, Kenya.
The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit. CAF President Patrice Motsepe met with the Nigerian president to discuss strengthening football administration and hosting rights across the continent.
Nigeria’s proposal to stage both the awards ceremony and the assembly received immediate presidential backing.
Present at the meeting were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, who now serves as Special Adviser to the CAF President.
Also in attendance was CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu. Their presence underscored the diplomatic and sporting weight attached to Nigeria’s bid.
According to the NFF statement, the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will take place in October this year. The assembly will bring together presidents of African football federations, CAF executive members, and key stakeholders to deliberate on the continent’s football agenda for the coming year.
The statement quoted the presidency as saying, “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.”
Hosting the CAF Awards will mark a major return for Nigeria, which has not staged the ceremony in recent years. The event recognizes Africa’s best players, coaches, and football administrators, drawing global attention to the host nation’s sporting and organizational capacity.
The most recent edition of the CAF Awards was held in Rabat, Morocco, on 19 November 2025. Morocco dominated several categories that night, with Moroccan players and clubs taking home top honors. Hosting rights for the 2026 edition now shift to Nigeria following Tinubu’s approval.
Sports analysts say the decision aligns with Nigeria’s push to reposition itself as a hub for continental sports events and diplomacy. Beyond football, the hosting is expected to boost tourism, hospitality, and international visibility for the country.
The NFF said preparations would begin immediately in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Sports Development and other relevant agencies. Dates and venue details for both the assembly and the awards are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
