The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has moved the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony forward by five days, with the event now scheduled for December 2 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The continental football governing body announced the adjustment in a statement on Tuesday, November 10, stating that the ceremony would commence at 7pm Nigerian time.
The event, which was initially scheduled for December 7, will hold at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, formerly the National Theatre, in Lagos. CAF did not disclose the reason for the change.
The ceremony will feature 18 award categories, recognising outstanding performances by players, coaches, goalkeepers, clubs and national teams across African football.
The Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards are expected to headline the occasion.
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The event marks the return of the prestigious awards to Lagos, which last hosted the ceremony on January 6, 2017.
Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez won the men’s award that year, while Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala emerged as the best female player.
Voting for the 2026 edition opened on November 5 and will run until November 20. CAF said eligible coaches, captains, clubs and member associations would participate in the selection process, with independent monitoring to ensure transparency.
Nigeria’s representation in the major categories has, however, been limited.
No Super Falcons player made the Women’s Player of the Year shortlist for the first time since the award’s introduction in 2001.
Likewise, the Super Eagles have no nominee in the men’s category for the first time since 2015.
Janet Akekoromowei and Flamingos’ Oluwakemi Adegbuyi are nominated for Best Young Player, while Edo Queens’ Christiana Uzoma is among the contenders for the Best Goalkeeper award.