LSSC D-G confirms Lagos as host of 2026 CAF Awards

By Breaking News Nigeria On Aug 2, 2026

Sports

LEKAN Fatodu, Director-General (D-G) Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) on Saturday confirmed Lagos as host of Africa’s biggest football gala, the 2026 CAF Awards.

Fatodu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

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Accordingly, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, Iganmu, has been pencilled in to host the event.

The occasion celebrates Africa’s outstanding footballers, coaches, clubs, national teams and administrators.

NAN reports that hosting the awards further enhances Nigeria’s profile as a destination for major continental sporting events and underscores the country’s enduring role in the growth and promotion of African football.

The annual CAF Awards is expected to attract some of the continent’s biggest football stars and stakeholders, recognising exceptional performances recorded over the previous year across club and international competitions.

The confirmation of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts as the venue also adds another landmark event to the iconic Lagos facility.

The iconic police cap-shaped cultural centre has become a symbol of Nigeria’s cultural and creative renaissance, following its transformation by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 2026 CAF Awards will honour the continent’s top football talents across several categories, including Men’s Player of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year.

Others are, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year.

NAN further reports that Nigeria had earlier been announced as the host of the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, expected to take place in October.

This reaffirms the country’s growing stature as a destination for major continental sporting events.

Nigeria had hosted the CAF Awards in 2015 at the Eko Hotels and Convention Center, after it previously played host to the ceremony in January 2017, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Riyad Mahrez of Morocco was named Men’s Player of the Year at the occasion.

Mahrez had beaten Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund and Sadio Mané of Senegal and Liverpool, to the second and third place respectively.

Former Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala, had also emerged as the Women’s Player of the Year at the ceremony. (NAN)

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Tags: CAF LSSC

Glasgow 2026: Team Nigeria sets mixed 4x400m games record

TEAM Nigeria made another emphatic statement at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Friday, setting the first-ever Commonwealth Games record in the Mixed 4x400m Relay. Kola Daniel, Special Adviser on Media, Office of the Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, in a statement also disclosed that the impressive Team Nigeria secured another field event final. “History was made on the track as the Nigerian Mixed 4x400m quartet of Edidiong Udo, Esther Joseph, Samuel Ogazi and Patience Okon-George stormed to victory in their heat in a time of 3:14.58. “The performance established the first-ever Commonwealth Games record in the Mixed 4x400m Relay event. “The Nigerian team finished comfortably ahead of Australia, who placed second in 3:15.21, to qualify for the final as the fastest team and overwhelming favourites for the gold medal,” he said. Daniel noted that the remarkable performance ensured the quartet became the first athletes to enter the Commonwealth Games record books in the Mixed 4x400m Relay. “The feat has further underlined Team Nigeria’s determination ahead of the eagerly anticipated final,” he said. He added that Ruth Usoro also booked her place in the women’s long jump final with an impressive first attempt. “Usoro produced a season’s best leap of 6.77m (+0.6) on her opening attempt, comfortably surpassing the automatic qualifying standard of 6.70m to progress to the medal round with confidence,” he said. Daniel also stated that Team Nigeria remained firmly in contention in the men’s decathlon, with Jami Schlueter occupying fourth position after six events with 5,099 points. “The versatile Nigerian will conclude his campaign during the evening session with the javelin throw and the demanding 1,500 metres, where a strong finish could propel him into the medal positions. “Attention now shifts to an action-packed evening session, where Team Nigeria will be chasing more podium finishes across several events. “Ezekiel Nathaniel will compete in the men’s 400m hurdles final, while Chinecherem Nnamdi will contest the men’s javelin final. “Sprint star Udodi Onwuzurike will also line up in the men’s 200m final as he seeks to add another medal to Nigeria’s growing tally,” he said. Daniel expressed optimism that Team Nigeria would continue its impressive run at the Games. “With a Commonwealth Games record already secured and several finals still to come, Team Nigeria heads into the Day Eight evening session with confidence and momentum. “There are high expectations…