CAF Reschedules 2026 Awards Ceremony in Lagos

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rescheduled the 2026 CAF Awards, moving the ceremony to Wednesday, December 2, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The new date, announced on Tuesday, November 10, replaces the previously advertised December 7 date, bringing forward one of African football’s most prestigious annual celebrations.

The ceremony will commence at 7:00 pm Nigerian time (8:00 pm in Cairo and 6:00 pm GMT) at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre.

The event will assemble some of the continent’s leading footballers, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders to recognise outstanding performances and contributions to African football over the past year.

Lagos is set to host the CAF Awards for the first time since 2014, marking Nigeria’s return as host after a 12-year absence.

The 2026 edition will feature 18 award categories, with the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year honours expected to attract particular attention. Other awards will recognise excellence among coaches, goalkeepers, emerging talents, clubs and national teams.

Meanwhile, the voting process, which commenced on November 5, will close on November 20 across the men’s and women’s categories.

CAF Member Associations and clubs are participating in the selection process, alongside eligible national team coaches and captains. The continental governing body says measures have been put in place to promote fairness, transparency and the integrity of the voting exercise through independent monitoring.

Beyond the presentation of individual and team honours, the December 2 ceremony is expected to showcase Nigeria’s cultural identity through music and entertainment, as Lagos prepares to welcome prominent figures from across the African football community.

The rescheduled event will provide an opportunity to celebrate the players, coaches, clubs and national teams whose achievements have shaped the African football landscape in 2026.