CAF moves 2026 awards ceremony to December 2 in Lagos

In a rescheduled event, the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards will be held on 2 December in Lagos, Nigeria. Esteemed football stars, coaches, and teams from across the continent will converge for a celebration of excellence in the sport. The ceremony is set to commence at 19:00 local time, with the National Theatre, formerly known as the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, serving as the venue.

This will be Lagos' inaugural hosting of the awards since 2014, and CAF anticipates an evening that seamlessly merges football prowess with Nigeria's vibrant cultural heritage, music, and entertainment. The 2026 edition will honor outstanding achievements in 18 categories, with the CAF Men's Player of the Year and CAF Women's Player of the Year awards taking center stage.

Coaches, goalkeepers, emerging talents, clubs, and national teams will also be recognized for their significant contributions to African football over the past year.

Voting for the awards is currently in progress, with the men's and women's categories accepting submissions from November 5 to 20. Involvement from CAF Member Associations, clubs, coaches, and national team captains is crucial in determining the winners. CAF has implemented measures to ensure transparency, fairness, and comprehensive representation in the selection process, including independent monitoring to safeguard the integrity of the results.