The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rescheduled the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony to December 2 in Lagos.

CAF announced the new date in a statement on Tuesday, with the event brought forward five days.

Although the football body gave no reason for the change, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Art Theatre, in Lagos, remains the venue for the ceremony.

The event will mark the return of the CAF Awards to Lagos for the first time since the 2014 edition, bringing together leading players, coaches, clubs and other personalities in African football to celebrate their achievements.

A total of 18 categories will be recognised at the ceremony, with the CAF Men’s Player of the Year and CAF Women’s Player of the Year awards among the major honours.

Other categories will recognise outstanding coaches, goalkeepers, emerging talents, clubs and national teams for their performances during the year.

Meanwhile, voting for the 2026 awards is ongoing and will run from November 5 to 20 across the men’s and women’s categories.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering standing against Gianni Infantino as a candidate in Fifa’s presidential election.

For weeks, senior figures in European football have been hoping the Frenchman would run for the job, and he is now giving it serious thought.

Wenger is 77, leading to questions over whether he could provide long-term leadership for the sport.

But according to report, some of his supporters have said that they would be happy for him to win the election, then stand down before serving a full four-year term.

Infantino’s position was plunged into crisis by a backlash caused by his failed plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

But he retains support in South America, Africa and Asia, and recently insisted he has the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of world football.

However, that support could be tested if Wenger stands.

Fifa’s head of global development would have the backing of Uefa, which has spearheaded opposition to Infantino, and he has credibility throughout the footballing world.

Sources close to Wenger say he is yet to decide whether to stand, and they still believe Infantino is favourite to win a fourth and final term in next year’s election.

The deadline for candidates to confirm they are standing against Infantino for the election in March is 18 November.

Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega was the first person to put his name forward in October.

Japan Football Association honorary president Kozo Tashima has also announced his intention to stand.

Sassuolo have sacked head coach Alberto Aquilani, with the Neroverdi perched perilously above the relegation zone in Serie A.

The former Liverpool, Juventus and AC Milan midfielder only took charge at the Mapei Stadium following stints with lower-league sides Pisa and Catanzaro.

He oversaw a dramatic 3-2 victory over his former club Juve in September, at which point they had seven points on the board after four Serie A games.

However, a run of one point from the next seven matches – the last five of which have been defeats – prompted Aquilani’s employers to act.

Sassuolo are one point and one place above the bottom three going into the international break, having lost 3-0 to Roma last time out, following similarly comprehensive defeats to Lazio (2-6) and Fiorentina (2-4).

They have conceded 30 goals in 13 matches across all competitions in 2026-27, with Lens (31) the only club from Europe’s top five leagues to ship more.

Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Getafe and Racing Santander are the other clubs from those competitions to concede 30 goals this season.