CAF Awards 2026: Lagos Set to Host Africa’s Biggest Football Night on December 2

CAF Awards 2026: Lagos Set to Host Africa’s Biggest Football Night on December 2

Lagos is preparing for a major night in African football as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has moved the 2026 CAF Awards to Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

The ceremony, which was initially scheduled for December 7, will begin at 7:00 p.m. Nigerian time and will take place at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, in Lagos. CAF announced the new date on November 10.

The change brings one of the continent's biggest football celebrations forward by five days, putting Lagos firmly in the spotlight as football stars, coaches and teams from across Africa prepare to gather in Nigeria.

Why Lagos matters

The decision to host the CAF Awards in Lagos is significant beyond the football itself. The city is one of Africa's major cultural and entertainment centres, making it a natural stage for an event that combines football with African music, culture and entertainment.

It will also be the first time the CAF Awards return to Lagos since the 2014 edition. CAF described the city as a fitting setting for celebrating the achievements of African football while showcasing the continent's cultural heritage.

For Nigerian football fans, the event offers an opportunity to see some of the biggest names in African football gather on home soil. The National Theatre, an iconic Lagos landmark, will provide the setting for the ceremony.

With the city hosting the event, attention will also turn to how Lagos presents itself to visiting players, football officials, celebrities and international media.

The awards fans will be watching

The 2026 CAF Awards will recognise achievements across 18 categories, covering players, coaches, goalkeepers, young talents, clubs and national teams.

However, the biggest spotlight will be on the CAF Men's Player of the Year and CAF Women's Player of the Year awards.

In the men's race, reigning winner Achraf Hakimi is among the nominees alongside stars including Sadio Mané, Antoine Semenyo, Brahim Díaz, Amad Diallo and several other leading African players.

The women's Player of the Year contest is also expected to generate plenty of interest, with nominees including Cameroon's Monique Ngock and Michaely Bihina, Malawi's Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, Zambia's Barbra Banda and South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana.

Other awards will recognise the continent's best goalkeepers, coaches, young players, clubs and national teams.

Voting already underway

The voting process for the 2026 awards is currently running from November 5 to November 20. CAF says member associations and clubs are involved, with eligible coaches and captains also participating in the selection process. Independent monitoring is being used as part of measures intended to protect the fairness and transparency of the results.

With the new date now confirmed, attention will increasingly shift toward Lagos and the eventual winners.

For a city with such a strong connection to football, music and entertainment, hosting the CAF Awards gives Lagos another chance to put its cultural energy on a continental stage. On December 2, the National Theatre will become the meeting point for Africa's football elite — and all eyes will be on who leaves Lagos with the continent's biggest individual honours.