CAF Awards Rescheduled As South Africa Leads Nominations
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 2 December in Lagos, Nigeria.
The event has been brought forward five days from its original date of 7 December. Reports indicate the shift stems from several European clubs refusing to release nominated players for the initial date, prompting CAF to adjust the schedule to ensure all potential winners can attend in person.
South African football is strongly represented across the marquee categories. Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena leads the nominees for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year, competing alongside international stars Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mané, Pape Matar Sarr, and Brahim Díaz.
Following their historic run to the World Cup knockout stages, Bafana Bafana received a nomination for National Team of the Year. Meanwhile, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso made the Coach of the Year shortlist, and Ronwen Williams earned a nomination for Goalkeeper of the Year.
In a statement, CAF confirmed the revised date and provided further details about the ceremony.
“The new date, 2 December 2026, brings forward one of the most prestigious events on the African sporting calendar, as the continent’s finest players, coaches and teams gather in Lagos for a glittering celebration of the achievements that have defined another remarkable year for African football.
“The ceremony will begin at 19h00 local time (20h00 Cairo time / 18h00 GMT).
“The CAF Awards return to Lagos for the first time since the 2014 edition, with Nigeria’s largest city set to provide a fitting stage for an event that brings together the passion of football with the continent’s rich cultural heritage, music and entertainment.
“The ceremony will be held at the iconic Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts (National Theatre), Lagos, Nigeria, where Africa’s leading football personalities will gather for an unforgettable night of recognition and celebration.
“The CAF Awards 2026 will honour excellence across 18 categories, with the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year and CAF Women’s Player of the Year awards taking centre stage.
“The evening will also celebrate the outstanding contributions of coaches, goalkeepers, emerging talents, clubs and national teams whose performances have inspired millions of football supporters across Africa and around the world.
“Voting for the CAF Awards 2026 is currently underway, with the process running from 05-20 November across the men’s and women’s categories.
“The voting process involves CAF Member Associations and clubs, with eligible coaches and captains encouraged to cast their votes directly in recognition of the outstanding performers of the year.
“The process is designed to ensure broad representation from across African football, fairness and transparency in the selection of the winners, with independent monitoring to safeguard the integrity of the results.”
