By Hussein Olanrewaju
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light for Nigeria to host two major Confederation of African Football (CAF) events — the 2026 CAF Awards and the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
The development was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a statement released on Tuesday, following a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
According to the federation, the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will take place in October 2026, bringing together football administrators, federation leaders, and major stakeholders from across the continent.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved Nigeria’s proposed hosting of the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football, as well as this year’s CAF Awards Ceremony,” the NFF stated.
Recognised as one of African football’s biggest governance gatherings, the CAF Ordinary General Assembly convenes presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions, and other top football decision-makers.
The CAF Awards, on the other hand, remains the continent’s premier football awards event, celebrating standout performers including players, coaches, teams, and administrators.
With the hosting rights secured, Nigeria is expected to further strengthen its standing as a key hub for football administration and major sporting events in Africa.
