President Bola Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 CAF Awards, strengthening the country’s push to stage two major African football events.

According to Channels Television, the approval was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation in a statement released on Monday.

The federation also disclosed that Tinubu endorsed Nigeria’s proposal to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly later this year.

The president announced the decisions during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi following a meeting with Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football.

Others present at the meeting included Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, acting CAF General Secretary Samson Adamu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and former NFF president Amaju Pinnick.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, will bring together leaders of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of its six zonal unions, and senior football administrators across Africa.

The CAF Awards is regarded as one of African football’s biggest annual ceremonies, recognising outstanding players, coaches and contributors on the continent.

Nigeria last hosted the event on January 6, 2017, when Riyad Mahrez won the men’s African Player of the Year award, while Asisat Oshoala claimed the women’s prize.

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony took place in Rabat, Morocco, with Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak emerging as winners in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won the men’s African Footballer of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024 respectively, while Oshoala also secured the women’s award in 2023 to extend her record to six titles.

CAF is expected to announce the final host city for both events in the coming months.