Nigeria’s Best Strikers To Battle for Pitch Awards
Nigeria’s Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen will battle African player of the year, Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface for best striker title at the 2025 Nigeria pitch awards after organisers announced the list of nominees.
Galatasaray’s Osimhen, the 10th edition winner, has a strong contender in Lookman who led Atalanta to their second major trophy in their 117-year history and Boniface, who helped Bayer Leverkusen win the 2023/2024 German championship.
In the list released at the BON Hotels in Lagos, Osimhen and Lookman were also nominated in the King of the Pitch category alongside Super Eagles captain and defender, Williams Troost-Ekong (Al-kholood FC, Saudi Arabia), who was named MVP at the last Africa Cup of Nations.
Five times Africa’s best female player, Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA) is up against Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético de Madrid Femenino, Spain) and Africa’s best female goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France) for the Queen of the Pitch award.
The goalkeeper of the year will be fought between Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali and Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole.
11th Edition Of The Awards
The awards, which began in 2013, have maintained high standards in recognizing individual and team achievements in Nigerian football through a scientific voting process, according to organisers.
The president of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, added that the award sought to motivate nominees and winners to remain consistent and to inspire them to higher levels of commitment.
Mr. Phillips said ”Awards are generally organized to recognize industry, commitment, loyalty and excellence. In addition, awards motivate nominees and winners to remain consistent and to inspire them to higher levels of commitment. You would agree with me that in spite of the successes our footballers and national teams have achieved in the continental and global football community, they can still go further and create and break more records. To achieve this, we all have a role to play. The Nigeria Pitch Awards, in the last decade, has continued to demonstrate faith in the ability of Nigerian players and stakeholders.”
In his remark, the Nigeria Football Federation’s Communications Director, Dr. Ademola Olajire, noted the significance of the pitch awards and how far it has come and prayed for the continuous growth of the awards.
Olajire said “11th is the magic number, 11 players make up a football team, when you have 11 you have a solid squad and there is no going back and I want to say that certainly it is our prayer that the Almighty will take the pitch awards to higher heights. I remember 11 years ago when we started, the almighty god has taken it to this level and we believe it will even go higher.”
At the 10th edition held at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, last June, Victor Osimhen clinched both the Striker of The Year and King of The Pitch awards.
Other winners included Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, who was named Midfielder of The Year, while Finidi George claimed the Coach of The Year award. Oshoala emerged Queen of The Pitch.
Full List Of Nominees
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
Defender Of The Year
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
Calvin Bassey Fulham FC
Midfielder Of The Year
Alex Iwobi Fulham FC
Frank Onyeka FC Augsburg
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
Striker Of The Year
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Victor Boniface Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
Team Of The Year
Remo Stars FC
Rangers International FC
Edo Queens
Coach Of The Year
Moses Adukwu Edo Queens FC
Fidelis Ilechukwu Rangers International FC
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars FC
Sam Okwaraji Award
Segun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
Kunle Soname Bet9ja
State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme
Edo
Lagos
Delta
Football Pitch Of The Year
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Football Friendly Governor Of The Year
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Former Governor, Edo State
Corporate Sponsor Of Football Award
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
Bet9ja Sport Betting
Sportsmanship Award
George Aluo Chairman NNL
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
Football Journalist Of The Year – Print
Charles Diya New Telegraph
Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers
Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers
Football Journalist Of The Year – Tv
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Blessing Nwosu Silverbird TV
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
Football Journalist Of The Year – Radio
Micheal Obasi Hot FM Abuja
Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
Football Journalist Of The Year – Online
Niyi Busari BSN Sports Concept
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Kunle Solaja Sports Village Square
Queen Of The Pitch
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Asisat Oshoala Bay FC
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
King Of The Pitch
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
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