CAF Awards 2026: Lagos hosts the grand ceremony on December 2nd

African football is preparing to celebrate its greatest players. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set Wednesday, December 2, 2026, as the date for the next CAF Awards ceremony. The festivities will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, where the continent's best players, coaches, and teams will be recognized for their achievements throughout the year.

After a twelve-year absence, the prestigious ceremony returns to Nigeria's economic capital, which had already hosted the 2014 edition. For this return, Lagos intends to offer a spectacle worthy of the event's importance, with a mix of football, music and entertainment highlighting African cultural diversity.

The event will take place at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, also known as the National Theatre. This iconic venue will host an evening bringing together leading figures in continental football.

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A total of 18 categories will be honored at this 2026 edition. The most anticipated awards remain those of African Player of the Year and African Women's Player of the Year. Awards will also be given to coaches, goalkeepers, young prospects, clubs, and national teams that have particularly distinguished themselves during the season.

While awaiting the verdict, the process of selecting the winners has already begun. Voting, which opened on November 5, will continue until November 20 and covers all male and female categories.

CAF member associations and clubs are involved in this selection process. Eligible coaches and captains are also invited to participate in the vote to decide between the various candidates.

Through this mechanism, the governing body of African football intends to ensure balanced representation of the various components of continental football. An independent verification system will also accompany the process to guarantee the transparency and credibility of the results.