The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged the state government’s full support for the successful hosting of the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in the state on December 7.
Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance while receiving the delegation, led by Dr. Christian Emeruwa, Project Lead for the CAF Awards and CAF General Assembly, during a courtesy visit to Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday.
Emeruwa said the delegation was in Nigeria for a five-day mission to inspect proposed venues and assess preparations for the CAF Awards in Lagos and the CAF General Assembly in Abuja.Buy Maps
He described the CAF Awards as one of the continent’s major annual non-competitive football events, recognising outstanding players, officials and national teams for their achievements during the year under review.
The CAF project lead noted that the December 7 ceremony would attract prominent figures in African and international football, including representatives of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), as well as other international guests.
He identified several areas requiring the state government’s intervention, including formal confirmation of the event date at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, to allow sufficient time for preparations and venue setup.
Emeruwa also highlighted the need to ensure that medical facilities and equipment were ready for the event, particularly as CAF was considering a friendly football match as part of the activities.
He called for support from the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency to facilitate publicity and branding across the state, while requesting that security operations be led by the Lagos State Government in coordination with CAF’s security team.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu assured the delegation that the outstanding issues raised would be addressed, pledging to provide two contact persons to coordinate security arrangements and maintain effective communication with CAF.
The governor described Lagos as a major commercial, cultural, entertainment and technology hub in Africa, highlighting its diversity, youthful population and economic significance as key assets for hosting international events.
He also expressed interest in the possibility of organising a novelty or friendly football match during the period, citing Lagos’s football heritage and the capacity of its upgraded sporting facilities.
Sanwo-Olu said the state was committed to giving CAF officials, football stakeholders and international visitors a positive experience, adding that the event would provide an opportunity to showcase Lagos’s hospitality and capacity to host major international engagements.
The CAF Awards will celebrate outstanding achievements in African football, while the CAF General Assembly is scheduled to take place in Abuja.
