The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has brought forward the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony from December 7 to December 2 following European clubs’ refusal to release nominated players for the original date.
UK-based Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana disclosed the reason for the change on Tuesday, quoting a CAF official as saying the governing body had to adjust the schedule to ensure award winners could attend the ceremony.
“The CAF Online awards in Lagos, Nigeria, are being moved to December 2nd. The real reason? Clubs in Europe are refusing to release the players for the original December 7 date, according to a CAF official. ‘We had no choice, really. You do an event, and the winners are not there, or you change the date, so they can be there.’ Africa, what say you?” Obayiuwana posted on 𝕏.
However, several European leagues have midweek fixtures scheduled for December 2, while most clubs with nominated players do not have matches on December 7.
Officials of the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) could not independently confirm the reported reason for the rescheduling as of the time of filing this report, according to Punch.
Naija News reports that the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7pm Nigerian time, 8pm in Cairo and 6pm GMT.
The 2026 CAF Awards will return to Lagos for the first time since 2014, with Nigeria’s commercial capital hosting the event at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre.
This year’s edition will feature 18 award categories, including the Men’s Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year prizes. Other categories will recognise outstanding coaches, goalkeepers, young players, clubs and national teams.
Voting opened on November 5 and will close on November 20. CAF said its Member Associations and clubs would participate in the process alongside eligible coaches and national team captains. Independent monitoring will also be employed to protect the integrity of the results.
Despite hosting the ceremony, Nigeria has no representative among the nominees for the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards.
However, the country has several contenders in other categories. Flamingos players Kemisola Adegbuyi and Janet Akekoromowei are nominated for the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma is also in contention for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year prize, while Nigeria’s three-time winner Chiamaka Nnadozie was notably absent from the nominations.
