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Originally scheduled for December 7, the African Ballon d’Or ceremony has been moved to December 2.
The CAF Awards is one of the most prestigious events on the African sporting calendar, as the continent’s finest players, coaches and teams gather in Lagos for a glittering celebration of the achievements that have defined another remarkable year for African football.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the change in date on Tuesday via its social media channels, and did not specify the reasons for this change of schedule.
The CAF Awards return to Lagos for the first time since the 2014 edition, with Nigeria’s largest city set to provide a fitting stage for an event that brings together the passion of football with the continent’s rich cultural heritage, music and entertainment.
The ceremony will be held at the iconic Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts (National Theatre), Lagos, Nigeria, where Africa’s leading football personalities will gather for an unforgettable night of recognition and celebration.
The CAF Awards 2026 will honour excellence across 18 categories, with the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year and CAF Women’s Player of the Year awards taking centre stage.
The evening will also celebrate the outstanding contributions of coaches, goalkeepers, emerging talents, clubs and national teams whose performances have inspired millions of football supporters across Africa and around the world.
Winner in 2025, Achraf Hakimi is back to defend his title as the favorite.
The Moroccan full-back reached the World Cup quarter-finals with Morocco and, most notably, won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG. Facing him are two of his compatriots: Ismaël Saibari (Bayern Munich) and Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid).
Logically, three Senegalese players are also among the contenders (AFCON finalists, or winners pending the CAF’s final decision): Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), and Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr). Finally, the list is completed by Ivorian Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Congolese Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United), Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), and South African Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns).
