CAF Awards rescheduled: What prompted this change?

The Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the upcoming CAF Awards have been moved from December 7 to Wednesday, December 2.

​The CAF Awards are the holy grail of African football, where the continent’s best talents are rewarded for their brilliance at both club and international levels.

​This year, the awards ceremony will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria. This marks the first time the event will be held in Nigeria since 2017.

​Initially scheduled for December 7, CAF has now confirmed the date shift. In this article, we explain why.

​Why Were the CAF Awards Shifted?

​The reason for the rescheduling of the CAF Awards is that most of the nominated players ply their trade in Europe. Naturally, all the big names need to be present to make the ceremony as glamorous as possible.

​However, most European clubs are reluctant to release their players during that period because their seasons will be in full swing, and having players travel to Africa provides no benefit to them.

​The December 2 date works better, making it easier for players to manage the travel arrangements and return in time to feature for their clubs.

​How Many Nigerians Have Been Nominated for the CAF Awards 2026?

​For the 2026 CAF Awards, Nigeria features in three categories. In the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nigeria has one representative: Christiana Uzoma, who plays for Edo Queens and the Super Falconets. She was brilliant for Nigeria at the recetly-concluded Under-20 World Cup tournament in Poland.

​In the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi have been shortlisted. Additionally, the Super Falcons have been nominated for Women’s National Team of the Year.

​For the first time ever, no Super Falcons player features in the Women’s Player of the Year category. This is, of course, the consequence of their poor performance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

​No Nigerian made the cut in any of the men’s categories.