By IJEOMA OKIGBO

A five-man delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has concluded the inspection of facilities proposed by Nigeria to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Ademola Olajire, Head of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

According to the statement, the delegation, led by Christian Emeruwa, inspected the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

Other members of the delegation were Hervé Dassoundo (Commercial and Branding), Inas Ahmed (Travel and Accommodation), Salah Mostafa (Transport) and Mohammed Bakeer (Technology).

The statement said the team had earlier arrived in Lagos on Sunday, where, alongside officials of the NFF, it inspected the Eko Hotel and Suites, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.

According to Olajire, the ICC has been proposed to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly, while the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts has been designated as the venue for the 2026 CAF Awards.

He said the delegation was joined during the Lagos inspection by the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, and the Director of Sports, Nunayon Travih.

Olajire added that Alex Njoku, Special Assistant to the Director-General of the centre, Tola Akerele, conducted the CAF team round the facility.

He noted that the centre, originally built in 1976 for the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77), was revitalised and re-dedicated in October 2025.

Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights for the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly in 2026, marking another major continental football event to be staged in the country. (NAN)