Osimhen Leads 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards Nominations as Ceremony Approaches

Posted : 17 December 2025

Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker; Calvin Bassey, Fulham left-back; and Ademola Lookman, Atalanta forward, have been nominated for the prestigious ‘King of the Pitch’ category of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

The organisers of the annual awards announced the nominees for the 12th edition during a stakeholders’ luncheon held in Abuja. Osimhen tops the nomination list with nods in three categories, including the Sam Okwaraji Award and the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker, alongside Ademola Lookman and Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.

Bassey was also nominated for the Defender of the Year category, competing with defensive standout Benjamin Frederick and Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest.

This marks the seventh time Osimhen has been nominated for ‘King of the Pitch,’ having won the award three consecutive times, while Lookman is aiming for his second win following his victory in the 11th edition.

Super Falcons stars Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Esther Okoronkwo earned nominations in the ‘Queen of the Pitch’ category, recognising their exceptional contributions for both club and country over the past year. Midfielders Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Wilfred Ndidi are also in contention for Midfielder of the Year.

For goalkeepers, Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali, and Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole received nominations for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Meanwhile, the Coach of the Year category features Finidi George (Rivers United), Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars), and WAFCON 2024-winning coach Justin Madugu.

Teams nominated for the Team of the Year award include the Super Falcons, Remo Stars FC, and Rivers United FC. Other categories include Football Pitch of the Year, with MKO Abiola International Stadium (Abeokuta), Godswill Akpabio Stadium (Uyo), and Remo Stars Stadium (Ogun) securing nominations.

The State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme award features Delta, Kwara, and Lagos, while the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award includes Bet9ja, GTI Financial, and MTN Nigeria. Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) are in contention for Football-Friendly Governor of the Year. Other awards to be presented include the Sportsmanship Award and Football Journalist of the Year (Print, TV, Radio, Online).

Speaking at the luncheon, Mr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, commended the College of Voters for their professionalism and dedication.

He stressed that the selection of nominees followed strict guidelines and that the awards platform is designed to inspire footballers, coaches, administrators, journalists, and stakeholders to higher standards of excellence. Philips further announced that the 12th edition will honour the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the Special Achievement in Sports Award for its contributions through the Niger Delta Games.

He also revealed plans to launch an annual international sports conference in conjunction with the award ceremony, with the date and venue to be announced after the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

Osimhen Leads 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards Nominations as Ceremony Approaches

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