Nigeria is preparing to welcome several high-profile visitors later this year, following an announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The West African nation has been selected to host both the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the prestigious 2026 CAF Awards ceremony. This will mark the fifth time in history that Nigeria stages the CAF Awards, and its first time since 2017. The CAF Ordinary General Assembly, an annual event that convenes prominent figures in African football, was last held in Kinshasa, Congo in 2025.

The decision for Nigeria to host these significant events was finalized during an African summit in Nairobi, Kenya. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with CAF President Patrice Motsepe, where he officially approved Nigeria’s bid and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to hosting. The meeting also saw the presence of other key dignitaries, including Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Special Adviser to the CAF President, among others.

Anticipation is high for the 2026 CAF Awards, especially with the possibility of Nigerian players clinching major honors. The 2025 edition, which took place in Morocco, saw the host nation dominate the top categories. Achraf Hakimi was crowned Men’s Player of the Year, surpassing Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, while Ghizlane Chebbak won the Women’s Player of the Year award, ahead of Rasheedat Ajibade.

For the upcoming awards, Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is once again expected to be a frontrunner, following an outstanding campaign where he helped his club secure a fourth straight Turkish Super Lig title. Ademola Lookman is also a strong contender, having had another impressive season and a formidable campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. Both players have previously won the award, in 2023 and 2024 respectively, fueling Nigeria's eagerness to see one of its stars reclaim the top spot after missing out last year.

However, the Nigerian duo is set to face formidable competition from Moroccan stars Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz. Hakimi, the current CAF Men’s Player of the Year holder, had a strong campaign for both club and country. Brahim Diaz was recognized as the Player of the Tournament at the last AFCON, positioning both Moroccans as leading contenders for the awards ceremony later this year in Nigeria.

In the women’s categories, the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is expected to play a crucial role in determining the winners. The Super Falcons will be aiming to defend their title, which they secured by defeating Morocco 3-2 in the previous final. A successful campaign at WAFCON could potentially see several Nigerian stars grace the podium and possibly achieve a clean sweep of the major awards for the country.