The 2026 CAF Awards will take place in Lagos on Wednesday, November 2, bringing together some of Africa’s biggest football stars, coaches, administrators and other personalities for a night celebrating excellence in the sport.
The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 7:00 pm at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, in Lagos.
The event marks the return of the prestigious awards to Lagos for the first time since 2014, with Nigeria’s commercial capital preparing to host a gathering that will combine African football, culture, music and entertainment.
A total of 18 categories will be recognised at this year’s ceremony, with the CAF Men’s Player of the Year and CAF Women’s Player of the Year awards expected to headline the occasion.
Other honours will recognise the achievements of coaches, goalkeepers, young players, clubs and national teams that have made significant contributions to African football over the assessment period.
Meanwhile, voting for the 2026 awards is ongoing, having opened on November 5 and scheduled to close on November 20 across the men’s and women’s categories.
CAF Member Associations and clubs are participating in the voting process, with eligible national team coaches and captains given the opportunity to select the year’s outstanding performers.
According to CAF, the voting structure is designed to encourage representation across the continent and uphold fairness and transparency, with independent monitoring put in place to protect the credibility of the process.
With the awards returning to Lagos after more than a decade, Wednesday’s ceremony is expected to provide a major celebration of African football and the individuals shaping its growth.
