Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, has been crowned King of the Pitch at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, held at the Ibis Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
The awards are in recognition of the outstanding contributions of Nigerians to football in 2025. The Galatasaray forward garnered 323 votes to reclaim the prestigious title from the last winner, Ademola Lookman, who polled 38 votes. Fulham’s Calvin Bassey finished third with 33 votes.
Osimhen was also honoured with the Rashidi Yekini Award for the Best Striker of the Year, ahead of Atalanta’s Lookman and Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.
In the women’s category, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named Queen of the Pitch for the second consecutive year.
The Paris Saint-Germain star polled 216 votes to defeat her teammates, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, who secured 176 votes, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion, who polled 72 votes.
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi continued his dominance in the midfield, winning the Midfielder of the Year award for the third straight year.
Iwobi secured 241 votes, comfortably ahead of Wilfred Ndidi (81) and Frank Onyeka (54).
Chippa United shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali claimed a landslide victory in the Goalkeeper of the Year category with 242 votes. Udinese’s Maduka Okoye came second with 63 votes, while Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole finished third with 36 votes.
In defence, Calvin Bassey won the Defender of the Year award with 235 votes, defeating Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest (100 votes) and Benjamin Frederick (98 votes).
In his address, the President of the awards organisation, Shina Philips, emphasised that the awards are not merely ceremonial but serve as a crucial part of football’s recognition and motivation architecture.
“When we honour excellence, we send a powerful message to the young footballer watching from a pitch somewhere in this country,” Philips stated.
“…Your talent matters; your discipline matters; your hard work will be recognised; and your contribution to football will not be forgotten.”
New Award Category
Philips further announced the introduction of a new category, the Emerging Star Award, which will debut at the next edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Designed to identify and honour the country’s most enterprising and promising football starlets aged 18 and below, the new award is aimed at sustaining the growth of football in Nigeria and boosting competitive spirit at the grassroots level.
In other categories, former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, won the Team of the Year award, while former Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu, who guided the team to their last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, was named Coach of the Year.
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo clinched the Football Pitch of the Year award, while Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno was honoured as the Football-Friendly Governor.
Lagos State emerged as the state with the best grassroots football development programme, and telecommunications giant MTN won the Best Corporate Sponsor award.
Remo Stars Chairman, Kunle Soname, won the prestigious Sam Okwaraji and Sportsmanship awards.
The Nigeria Police Force, under Inspector-General Olatunji Disu, received a Special Achievement in Sports award for its long-standing institutional sports programme.
Awards were also presented to distinguished media professionals across the TV, Radio, Print, and Online categories.
The Nigeria Pitch Awards, first staged in 2013 in Calabar, Cross River State, have remained steadfast in their commitment to celebrating excellence in Nigerian football on an annual basis.
