Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confident the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) of the state executive’s readiness to host the 2026 CAF Awards, scheduled for 7 December.
Mr Sanwo-Olu gave the reassurance after assembly a CAF delegation led by way of Christian Emeruwa, the organisation’s Head of Protection and Safety and undertaking lead for the awards and its Unusual Common Meeting.
In a Fb publish, the governor mentioned the state was once dedicated to making sure a clean match, with specific consideration to safety, logistics, branding and get entry to to the venue.
“Lagos is happy to host the 2026 Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) Awards this December,r and we’re dedicated to creating it a memorable enjoy,” he wrote.
“Assembly with the CAF delegation, led by way of Dr Christian Emeruwa, Mission Lead for the CAF Awards and CAF Common Meeting, I confident them of our complete give a boost to, with specific consideration to safety, logistics, branding and venue get entry to.”
The governor mentioned the rite would provide a chance to show off Lagos’ tradition, undertaking and hospitality to guests from throughout Africa and past.
The awards will deliver in combination main African footballers, coaches, golf equipment and directors to recognise exceptional performances within the males’s and girls’s video games.
CAF delegation inspects amenities
The assembly comes as CAF and Nigerian government get ready for 2 main occasions at the continental soccer calendar.
In step with the inspection time table introduced by way of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), a 15-member CAF delegation is at the flooring to evaluate amenities in Lagos and Abuja forward of the awards and the forty eighth CAF Unusual Common Meeting.
The inspection programme comprises the Wole Soyinka Centre for Tradition and Ingenious Arts, Eko Lodge & Suites and Murtala Muhammed Global Airport in Lagos.
In Abuja, the delegation is scheduled to check out the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Global Convention Centre, Transcorp Hilton Lodge and Nnamdi Azikiwe Global Airport.
The Common Meeting is scheduled for 21 November on the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Global Convention Centre in Abuja, whilst the awards rite will happen in Lagos on 7 December.
This newest inspection procedure follows an previous consult with by way of CAF officers from 31 July to 4 August, when representatives of the establishments and businesses curious about setting up the occasions mentioned coordination and different preparations.
A six-member NFF group led by way of its Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, may be anticipated to accompany the CAF delegation right through the inspections.
Nigeria’s historical past on the CAF Awards
The 2026 rite will give Nigerian soccer any other probability to function prominently on the continent’s annual awards.
Nigeria has produced a number of winners within the males’s and girls’s Participant of the 12 months classes. Victor Osimhen received the lads’s award in 2023, adopted by way of Ademola Lookman in 2024.
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Their successive victories persevered a convention set by way of Nwankwo Kanu, who received in 1996 and 1999, and Victor Ikpeba, who received in 1997.
On the 2024 rite in Marrakech, Morocco, Nigeria’s Tremendous Falcons have been named Ladies’s Nationwide Crew of the 12 months, whilst goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie received the Ladies’s Goalkeeper of the 12 months award.
On the 2025 version in Rabat, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak received the lads’s and girls’s Participant of the 12 months awards, respectively. Nnadozie retained the Ladies’s Goalkeeper of the 12 months honour.
Past recognising particular person and group achievements, the Lagos rite will position the state earlier than a world target market of soccer officers, gamers and guests.
Mr Sanwo-Olu mentioned the state seemed ahead to welcoming soccer leaders and visitors whilst demonstrating its capability to host main global occasions.
The arrangements would require coordination a number of the state executive, CAF, the NFF, and different related businesses, in particular on safety, delivery, lodging, and get entry to to the rite venue.
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