The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has brought forward the date of its 2026 Awards ceremony, with Lagos retaining hosting rights for the continental football event.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, the African football governing body announced that the ceremony would now take place on Wednesday, December 2, instead of the previously scheduled date of Monday, December 7.
The event will be staged at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, in Lagos, Nigeria.
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The ceremony will bring together prominent figures in African football to recognise outstanding performances and contributions to the sport over the past year.
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18 award categories to feature in Lagos ceremony
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The 2026 edition will feature 18 award categories, with the Men’s Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year prizes expected to attract significant attention.
Other honours will recognise achievements across different areas of the game, including coaching, goalkeeping, emerging talent, club football and national team competitions.
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The awards provide an opportunity for CAF to celebrate players, coaches, clubs and national teams whose performances have contributed to the development and popularity of football across the continent.
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Lagos will host the ceremony as African football stakeholders prepare to gather for the annual recognition of the continent’s outstanding performers.
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CAF Awards voting enters decisive stage
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Meanwhile, the voting process for the 2026 CAF Awards commenced on November 5 and is scheduled to close on November 20.
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CAF member associations and clubs are participating in the selection process, alongside eligible coaches and captains of national teams.
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Their votes will help determine the eventual winners across the men’s and women’s award categories.
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With the voting window approaching its conclusion, attention is expected to shift towards the final nominees and the individuals who will emerge victorious at the December ceremony.
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The decision to retain Lagos as the host city also marks another opportunity for Nigeria to welcome key figures in African football for one of the continent’s major sporting events.
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