CAF Reschedules 2026 Awards Ceremony to December 2

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rescheduled the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony to December 2, moving the event forward by five days.

The African football governing body announced the change in a statement on Tuesday, without giving reasons for the adjustment.

Despite the change in date, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Art Theatre, in Lagos, will remain the venue for the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 7 pm Nigerian time.

The voting process for the awards will close on November 20.

CAF had initially announced December 7 as the date for the ceremony in October, with the event scheduled to take place two weeks after its Ordinary General Assembly in Abuja.

Nigeria will have representation in some categories, although no Super Falcons player made the shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Year award for the first time since the category was introduced in 2001.

Similarly, no Super Eagles player was nominated for the Men’s Player of the Year award, marking the first time since 2015 that the country will not have a representative in the category.

However, Nigeria’s Janet Akekoromowei and Flamingos forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi have been nominated for the Best Young Player award, while Edo Queens goalkeeper Chriatiana Uzoma is in contention for the Best Goalkeeper award.

Nigeria last hosted the CAF Awards ceremony on January 6, 2017. At the event, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez won the Men’s Player of the Year award, while Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala claimed the Women’s Player of the Year prize.