A 15-member delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Friday, 16 October 2026, for a second and final inspection of facilities ahead of two major continental football events.
Nigeria is preparing to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Abuja on 21 November and the 2026 CAF Awards in Lagos on 7 December.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, the delegation will be led by CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa, and is expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday afternoon.
The visit will focus on the readiness of event venues, hotels, airports, and other facilities needed to accommodate football officials and guests.
CAF team to inspect facilities in Lagos
The delegation is expected to begin its latest assessment in Lagos, where the 2026 CAF Awards are scheduled to take place.
The ceremony will be held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre.
CAF officials are scheduled to inspect the venue and hold discussions with its management about preparations for the event.
The delegation will also assess Eko Hotel & Suites and Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Meetings with Lagos State Government officials are included in the programme.
The CAF Awards recognise outstanding achievements by African footballers, coaches, teams, and other figures involved in the sport.
The ceremony is expected to bring together prominent football personalities and administrators from across the continent.
Abuja prepares for CAF General Assembly
In Abuja, the delegation will inspect facilities ahead of the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for Saturday, 21 November.
The meeting is due to take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
CAF officials are also expected to assess the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The programme includes courtesy visits to the Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission.
The General Assembly is an important gathering in African football administration, bringing together representatives of CAF’s member associations and other football stakeholders.
The event provides an opportunity for discussions and decisions concerning the organisation and development of football across Africa.
Second inspection follows earlier visit
The latest visit follows an initial assessment carried out between 31 July and 4 August 2026.
During that inspection, CAF representatives visited proposed venues and met officials of organisations involved in preparing for the two events.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the first delegation consisted of five CAF officials led by Emeruwa.
The team examined facilities in Abuja and Lagos, including conference and awards venues, hotels and airports.
The earlier discussions focused on coordination between organisers and the arrangements needed to host the events.
The second visit will allow CAF officials to review preparations as the scheduled dates approach.
However, the description of the visit as a final inspection does not mean the facilities have already received final approval.
NFF to accompany CAF officials
The Nigeria Football Federation is expected to provide a six-member team to accompany the visiting delegation.
The NFF team will be led by Dr Ademola Olajire, the federation’s Director of Communications.
According to Premium Times, the inspection will cover preparations in both host cities and involve discussions with officials responsible for the facilities.
The visit is intended to help organisers identify any outstanding arrangements before the events.
It also provides another opportunity for CAF and Nigerian authorities to coordinate preparations involving accommodation, transport, security and event operations.
Nigeria awaits outcome of final assessment
Nigeria is preparing to host two major CAF events within a few weeks of each other.
The General Assembly is scheduled for 21 November in Abuja, followed by the CAF Awards on 7 December in Lagos.
The inspection delegation’s arrival and the completion of its assessments have not yet been independently confirmed in the reports reviewed.
CAF has also not announced the findings of the latest inspection or whether any further work will be required at the proposed facilities.
For now, the scheduled visit represents another stage in preparations as Nigeria works towards hosting both events.
