African Football Powerhouse CAF Dispatches Key Delegation to Nigeria for Assembly Preparations

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is intensifying its preparations for two significant continental football events in Nigeria: the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards. To ensure seamless execution, CAF is dispatching a 15-man delegation to Nigeria on Friday for a second and final inspection of the host facilities. This crucial visit aims to thoroughly assess the level of preparedness, including facilities, security arrangements, and overall operational readiness, ahead of the events scheduled for next month in Abuja and Lagos.

The delegation, spearheaded by CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa, is expected to touch down in Lagos on Friday afternoon. Their itinerary includes a detailed inspection of key locations in Lagos such as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Eko Hotel & Suites, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Furthermore, they will hold important meetings with the management of these facilities and officials from the Lagos State Government, underscoring the collaborative effort required for successful hosting.

Following their engagements in Lagos, the CAF team will proceed to Abuja. There, they will meticulously assess the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. In addition to facility inspections, the CAF officials are slated to conduct courtesy visits to the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), reinforcing the institutional support for these high-profile events.

The 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly is set to convene at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday, November 21. Subsequently, the prestigious 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will illuminate the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos on Monday, December 7. These dates highlight the proximity of the events and the urgency of the final inspection.

This upcoming visit is a follow-up to an initial assessment conducted by CAF officials between July 31 and August 4. During that preliminary visit, discussions were held with executives from various government institutions and agencies involved in the organization across both cities. A consensus was reached to maintain consistent communication and establish robust arrangements to guarantee the successful hosting of both the General Assembly and the Awards. A six-man team from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), led by Dr Ademola Olajire, will actively accompany the CAF delegation throughout their inspections in both Lagos and Abuja, demonstrating a unified approach to the preparations.

Nigeria's role as host for the CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the continental football awards is a major organizational undertaking. This final inspection serves as the ultimate checkpoint to ensure that all aspects, from infrastructure to security and operational logistics, are perfectly aligned for events of such magnitude and prestige on the African football calendar.