Nigeria has begun preparations to host the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ordinary General Assembly and CAF Awards. National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko has engaged with CAF leadership on arrangements for the events. The CAF Ordinary General Assembly will take place in Abuja on November 21, while the 2026 CAF Awards will be held in Lagos on December 7. These events are expected to bring together football administrators, international delegates, and stakeholders.
Shehu Dikko met with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, General Secretary Samson Adamu, and CAF President's special adviser, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, on October 9, in Cabo Verde. Discussions focused on Nigeria's readiness to host the events, including venue readiness, transportation, and accommodation arrangements. President Bola Tinubu had approved Nigeria's bid during a meeting with Motsepe in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2026. The CAF Executive Committee subsequently awarded Nigeria the hosting rights.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly is expected to attract 54 member associations' presidents and general secretaries, alongside international delegates and football stakeholders. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja will host the General Assembly, while the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos will host the CAF Awards. Preparations include engagements between Nigerian officials and CAF on organisational requirements.
Dikko's engagement with CAF leadership provided an opportunity to discuss outstanding preparations and reaffirm the Federal Government's commitment to delivering both events. His delegation included Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who is coordinating inter-agency collaboration, and Saleh Amadu, chairman of TMPL and a private-sector supporter.
The involvement of government agencies and private-sector partners reflects the coordination required to host events of this scale. Nigeria's selection for the two events forms part of the Federal Government's broader ambition to use sports as a platform for economic growth, investment, employment, and international engagement.
The government hopes that hosting major continental football gatherings will strengthen Nigeria's global standing and cultural influence while creating opportunities for businesses and stakeholders in the sports sector. This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria's Sports Economy (RHINSE), which seeks to harness the commercial and developmental potential of sports.
With the General Assembly scheduled for November 21, Abuja will host the first of the two events before attention shifts to Lagos for the CAF Awards on December 7. The successful delivery of both gatherings will demonstrate Nigeria's organisational capacity and reinforce its role in African football administration.
Key points
- Nigeria to host 2026 CAF Ordinary General Assembly and CAF Awards
- Events to take place in Abuja and Lagos
- Preparations underway to ensure successful hosting of events
