President Tinubu Approves Nigeria’s Hosting of CAF Congress, Awards Ceremony

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football as well as the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony.

The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire.

According to the statement, the President announced the approval during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, following a high-level meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

Also present at the meeting were Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Special Adviser to the CAF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, and CAF Acting General Secretary, Samson Adamu.

The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled to hold in October, will bring together key stakeholders in African football, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions, football administrators, and senior officials from across the continent.

The event is regarded as one of the most important gatherings in African football, where major decisions concerning the development and administration of the game on the continent are discussed and ratified.

Nigeria’s successful bid to host the congress is seen as another significant endorsement of the country’s growing influence within African football administration.

In addition to the congress, Nigeria will also host the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, one of the biggest events on the African football calendar.

The annual ceremony celebrates outstanding performers in African football, including players, coaches, clubs, national teams, and football administrators, in a glamorous evening attended by global football personalities and dignitaries.

Sports stakeholders have described the development as a major boost for Nigeria’s sports tourism and football profile, with expectations that the events will attract international attention and stimulate economic activities within the host city.

The approval also reflects the strengthening relationship between Nigerian football authorities and the leadership of CAF under Motsepe.