Osimhen, Oshoala, Rivers United, MTN Among Nominees For Nigeria Pitch Awards

 

Super Eagles and Italian Serie A goal-king, Victor Osimhen and in-form FC Barcelona Femeni forward Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees for the ninth edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards scheduled to hold in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Friday, 24^th March 2023.

 

Osimhen, record scorer of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals (with 10 goals, achieved at the finals in Chile in 2015) has continued to bang in the goals in the Italian Serie A where he is current leading scorer, and scored four of Nigeria’s 10 goals in the record international win over Sao Tome and Principe last year summer.

 

There are, in total, eighteen categories of awards, viz King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award; State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme; Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the Year-Online.

 

Presenting the list of nominees to the NFF leadership on Thursday, President of Matchmakers Consult International (organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards), Mr. Shina Philips expressed appreciation to the NFF for its encouragement of the Awards over the years and assured that the fine canons of transparency and credibility that have taken the Awards this far will never be discountenanced for any reason.

 

“We are happy with the encouragement and regard that we have continued to receive from the NFF since we started the Awards in 2013. The Federation has always been there and always present at the event. We are bold to say that the Awards will forever retain its integrity, transparency and credibility.”

 

Responding on behalf of the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau who joined the presentation on video to wish the organizers the best going forward, NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen assured the Nigeria Pitch Awards of the Federation’s continued support as long as the tenets of integrity and credibility associated with the Awards over the years are sustained.

 

Also present at the presentation were NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Head of International, Dayo Enebi Achor and Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Nelson Olafisoye.

 

 

NOMINEES FOR 9TH AWARD CEREMONY

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Victor Sochima                                Rivers United FC

Francis Uzoho                          ACOmonoia Nicosia FC

Adebayo Adeleye                     Hapoel Jerusalem FC

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

William Troost-Ekong             UnioneSportivaSalernitana 1919 FC

Zaidu Sanusi                            FC Porto

Calvin Bassey                          AFC Ajax

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

Alex Iwobi                               Everton FC

Wilfred Ndidi                           Leicester City F.C

Joe Aribo                                 Southampton FC

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

Victor Osimhen                                Napoli FC

Ademola Lookman                   Atalanta B.C

Chijioke Akuneto                     Rivers United FC

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

Monday Gift                             UD Granadilla Tenerife

Asisat Oshoala                         FC Barcelona Femení  

Rasheedat Ajibade                  Atlético de Madrid Femenino

KING OF THE PITCH

Ademola Lookman                   Atalanta B.C/

Paul Onuachu                          Southampton FC

Alex Iwobi                               Everton FC

Victor Osimhen                                Napoli FC

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Remo Stars

Rivers United

The Flamingos (Nigeria’s U17 Girls’ Team)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Stanley Eguma                        Rivers United

Gbenga Ogunbote                   Shooting Stars FC

Bankole Olowookere               The Flamingos

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD

Victor Osimhen                                Super Eagles

Hon. Kunle Soname                 Chairman, BET9JA

Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi              Former 1st Vice-President, NFF

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Edo State

Lagos State

Delta State

FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR

Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena                Lagos State

Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium       Akwa Ibom State

Remo Stars Stadium                                Ogun State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

His Excellency, Nyesom Wike CON         Rivers State

His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu                Lagos State

His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki             Edo State

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

MTN Nigeria                                            Telecom

BET9JA                                                    Sport Betting

Cocacola                                                  Bottling Co.

AITEO Group                                           Oil & Gas

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

His Excellency, Philip Shaibu        Deputy Governor, Edo State

Hon. Kunle Soname                         Chairman, BET9JA

Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi                      Former 1st Vice-President, NFF

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT

Tana Aiyejina                           Punch Newspapers

Charles Diya                            New Telegraph Newspapers

Johnny Edward                                Punch Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV

Mozez Praiz                             Supersport

Promise Eforgie                       Television Continental

Cecilia Omoregbe                    Channels TV

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO

Yinka Oyedele                         Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM

Emmanuel Etim                       Nigeria Info 99.3 FM

Tony Bekederemo                    Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE

Kunle Solaja                            Sportsvillagesquare.com

Tobi Samuel Adepoju              Oganla Media

Shina Oludare                          Goal.com