AFCON 2025
Lagos State has taken another major step towards hosting the 2026 CAF Awards after officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) carried out an inspection of the venue on Monday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that the CAF delegation visited the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, where they were received by the Lagos State Sports Commission and taken on a tour of the facilities.
Sharing details of the visit on his official X account, the governor said the inspection formed part of preparations for the continent’s biggest annual football awards ceremony.
“We guided them through the venue and gathered their feedback. Hosting an event of this scale means every single detail counts and our team is working hard behind the scenes to make sure we get it right,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added: “Lagos is ready and we look forward to putting on a brilliant show for African football.”
The inspection comes just days after CAF officially announced Lagos as the host city for the 2026 CAF Awards, marking Nigeria’s return as host of the prestigious event for the first time in nearly a decade. The last edition held in the country was the 2016 CAF Awards ceremony, staged in Abuja in January 2017.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, recently underwent extensive renovation before being selected as the venue for the awards. CAF is yet to confirm the date of the ceremony or unveil the complete list of award categories.
Aside the awards, Nigeria is also set to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in October 2026, further strengthening the country’s role in African football administration.
With preparations gathering pace, Lagos State says it is committed to delivering a world-class event that will welcome Africa’s leading football stars, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders.
