Lagos will host the 2026 CAF Awards, with the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, selected as the venue for Africa’s premier football awards ceremony.
Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), confirmed the decision on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The annual ceremony brings together some of the biggest names in African football and recognises outstanding achievements by players, coaches, clubs, national teams and administrators.
The choice of Lagos strengthens Nigeria’s position as a host for major continental sporting events and highlights the country’s continuing involvement in the development and promotion of African football.
The 2026 CAF Awards are expected to draw leading footballers and other prominent figures from across the continent. The event will recognise performances from the previous year in both club and international competitions.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts will provide the setting for the ceremony, adding another major event to the history of the landmark Lagos facility.
The building, known for its distinctive police cap-shaped design, has become an important symbol of Nigeria’s cultural and creative development. It underwent a transformation during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Among the major prizes to be presented at the 2026 ceremony will be the Men’s Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year awards.
The Interclub Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards will also be contested.
National Team of the Year and Club of the Year are among the other categories that will be decided during the ceremony.
Nigeria’s selection as host of the CAF Awards comes after the country was also chosen to stage the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, which is scheduled for October.
The combination of the two events underlines Nigeria’s growing importance as a venue for major African football activities.
The country has previous experience of hosting the CAF Awards.
Nigeria staged the ceremony in 2015 at the Eko Hotels and Convention Centre in Lagos. The awards were also held in Abuja in January 2017 at the International Conference Centre.
At the 2017 ceremony, Morocco’s Riyad Mahrez was named Men’s Player of the Year.
Mahrez finished ahead of Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, then of Borussia Dortmund, and Senegal’s Sadio Mané, who was playing for Liverpool, in the voting.
The women’s award went to former Super Falcons captain Asisat Oshoala, who was named Women’s Player of the Year.
The return of the CAF Awards to Lagos gives Nigeria another opportunity to showcase its ability to stage major continental football events while bringing together some of Africa’s leading players and football officials.
The ceremony will also provide a platform to celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams who have made a significant impact in African football during the previous year.
With Lagos confirmed as the host and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts selected as the venue, attention will now turn to the continent’s leading football figures and the awards they will compete for at the 2026 ceremony.
