CAF Completes Inspection of Nigeria's Proposed 2026 Awards Host Venues

Posted : 05 August 2026

A delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has completed a four-day inspection tour of facilities proposed by Nigeria to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards.

The five-member delegation concluded its assessment on Tuesday after visiting key venues and infrastructure in Abuja and Lagos. The inspection forms part of CAF's evaluation process before confirming the host nation for two of its flagship events.

The delegation was led by Dr. Christian Emeruwa and included Hervé Dassoundo, who oversees Commercial and Branding, Inas Ahmed from Travel and Accommodation, Salah Mostafa responsible for Transport, and Mohammed Bakeer, who handled Technology.

The inspection began in Lagos, where CAF officials, accompanied by representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), assessed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Eko Hotel & Suites and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.

The Wole Soyinka Centre has been proposed as the venue for the 2026 CAF Awards. During the visit, the delegation was welcomed by Lagos State Sports Commission Director General Hon. Lekan Fatodu and the Commission's Director of Sports, Mr. Nunayon Travih.

Officials also received a guided tour of the cultural centre from Mr. Alex Njoku, Special Assistant to the Centre's Director General, Ms. Tola Akerele. Originally built for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC '77, the facility underwent extensive renovation before being recommissioned in October 2025.

The inspection later moved to Abuja, where the CAF team visited the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

The conference centre has been nominated to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, while the Transcorp Hilton is expected to provide accommodation for delegates and officials if Nigeria's bid is successful.

The inspection covered key operational areas, including transport logistics, accommodation standards, technology infrastructure, branding opportunities and the readiness of each venue to host major continental events.

Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its reputation as a destination for international football events, and hosting both the CAF Awards and the General Assembly would further enhance the country's profile within African football.

CAF is expected to review the findings from the inspection before making a final decision on the host venues for the 2026 events.

CAF Completes Inspection of Nigeria's Proposed 2026 Awards Host Venues

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