Lagos State is fully prepared to host the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared, following a comprehensive evaluation of key infrastructure by an official delegation from the continental governing body.
The five-member CAF team conducted an assessment on Monday at the designated venue, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre. Writing on X on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that officials guided the delegation through the complex and gathered crucial feedback, noting that meticulous behind-the-scenes work is underway to ensure seamless execution.
“Lagos is ready and we look forward to putting on a brilliant show for African football,” the governor stated.
The awards ceremony forms part of a dual-event showcase approved two months ago by President Bola Tinubu at the Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, following a formal request from CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe. Whilst Lagos will host the flagship evening honouring the continent’s top performers, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is set to host CAF’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly on 21 November 2026.
Nigeria has hosted the prestigious awards ceremony four times previously, with Lagos last staging the event in January 2015.
The CAF inspection party, which arrived in Nigeria last Thursday, is headed by Dr Christian Emeruwa, former NFF presidential aspirant and CAF’s Head of Safety and Security. The visiting delegation also features technical experts Mohammed Bakeer (Technology), Inas Ahmed (Travel and Accommodation), Salah Mostafa (Transport), and Hervé Dassoundo (Branding).
Prior to arriving in Lagos, the inspectors examined logistics in Abuja, checking facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Friday before evaluating the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the designated venue for the assembly, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Saturday.
Upon their arrival at the National Theatre on Monday, the CAF inspectors were received by a delegation from the Lagos State Sports Commission, headed by Director-General Lekan Fatodu.
Throughout the tour, the continental officials have been accompanied by a five-man Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) team consisting of Dr Ademola Olajire (Director of Media and Communications), Alizor Chuks (Director of Marketing), Barnabas Joro (Head of Security), Emmanuel Ayanbunmi (Chief Protocol Officer), and Tasiu Riskuwa Shehu (Head of ICT).