This is a significant move for both the sporting and tourism sectors in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu’s formal expression of interest during his meeting with CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe in Nairobi (May 2026) marks a potential return of the prestigious awards to Nigeria for the first time since 2017.
President Tinubu met with Dr. Motsepe on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting wasn’t just a courtesy call; it served as a high-level diplomatic push to secure two major continental events:
The annual gala that honors the best of African football. The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly: A critical gathering of football administrators from across all 54 member nations, proposed for October 2026.
Morocco has hosted the last three editions of the CAF Awards. Nigeria’s bid signals a shift in the hosting rotation and a desire to reclaim its spot as a central hub for African football culture.
Events of this scale bring in hundreds of international delegates, global media coverage, and sports legends, providing a direct boost to the hospitality and service sectors.
With Nigerian players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman frequently in the spotlight for African Player of the Year honors, hosting the ceremony at home would be a massive symbolic win.
While the President has given the official “green light” and CAF has expressed positive feedback regarding the collaboration between the private sector and government, a final confirmation of the host city (likely Lagos or Abuja) is expected from CAF later this year.
