Tinubu Approves Nigeria’s Bid to Host 2026 CAF Awards

President Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards ceremony as the country intensifies efforts to attract major continental sporting events.

The approval was announced in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which also disclosed that the President endorsed Nigeria’s proposal to stage CAF’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly later this year.

Tinubu gave the endorsement during a meeting with CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

Among those present at the meeting were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; acting CAF General Secretary, Samson Adamu; NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau; and former NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick, who currently serves as special adviser to the CAF president.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, is one of the continent’s biggest football gatherings. The event traditionally attracts presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators from across Africa.

The CAF Awards ceremony, on the other hand, remains one of African football’s most prestigious annual events, celebrating outstanding players, coaches, officials and stakeholders on the continent.

Nigeria last hosted the award ceremony in January 2017 when Riyad Mahrez won the men’s African Player of the Year prize, while Asisat Oshoala emerged winner in the women’s category.

The NFF said CAF is expected to announce the final host city for both events after reviewing the bids submitted by interested countries.

Observers say hosting the events would further boost Nigeria’s profile within African football and provide an opportunity to showcase the country’s sporting and tourism potential to the continent and the wider global audience.