Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Rasheedat Ajibade Lead Nominations for 12th Edition Of Nigeria Pitch Awards

The Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray FC, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta BC, and Calvin Bassey of Fulham FC lead nominations for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

 

The organizers of the awards announced this at a media gathering at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, 16 December.

 

Speaking at the event organized to celebrate partners, members of the College of Voters, and journalists, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, reaffirmed organizers’ confidence in the voting process coordinated by SIAO Partners, the accounting firm that has been at the helm of the collation and auditing of the results since 2014.

 

‘We would like to thank SIAO Partners and express our confidence in the results that will be presented at this gathering. We have worked with SIAO Partners for over 11 years, and during this period, they have consistently demonstrated professionalism and commitment to this national project,’ Dr Philips said.

 

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Afolabi Lawal, Senior Manager at SIAO Partners, stated that the accounting firm adhered to all due process while collating and auditing the results.

 

While announcing the names of nominees, Dr. Ademola Olajire, the NFF Director of Communication, stated that the Federation continues to support the Nigeria Pitch Awards because the award process is credible and transparent.

 

In the King of the Pitch category, Atalanta’s striker, Ademola Lookman, the 2024-winner of the award, will face competition from Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and Galatasaray S.K. goal poacher Victor Osimhen.

 

The Queen of the Pitch Award will be a stiff battle between Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, and Rasheedat Ajibade of PSG Feminine.

 

Super Eagles new defensive sensation, Benjamin Frederick (F.C.V. Dender E.H.), will hope to starve up competition from Calvin Bassey (Fulham F.C.) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest F.C.) for the Defender of the Year award.

 

The Midfielder of the Year category will be a fierce competition between Alex Iwobi (Fulham F.C.), Frank Onyeka (Brentford F.C.), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), and Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş J.K.).

In their second nominations, Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC) and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K) will face competition from Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United) for the  Rashidi Yekini Award for the Best Striker of the Year.

 

The award for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year will be a straight contest between Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.

 

Dr Shina Philips also announced that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be honoured with the Special Achievement in Sports Award at the 12th Award Ceremony. This is in recognition of the Commission’s invaluable contributions to the growth of sports through its organization of the Niger Delta Games.

The detailed list of other nominees is:

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR 

Kayode Bankole Remo Stars & TS Galaxy F.C.

Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio

Stanley Nwabali Chippa United F.C.

 

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR 

Benjamin Frederick F.C.V. Dender E.H.

Calvin Bassey Fulham F.C.

Ola Aina Nottingham Forest F.C.

 

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR 

Alex Iwobi Fulham F.C.

Frank Onyeka Brentford F.C.

Raphael Onyedika               Club Brugge

Wilfred Ndidi        Beşiktaş J.K.

 

RASHIDI YEKINI AWARD FOR THE BEST STRIKER OF THE YEAR 

Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC

Anas Yusuf Nasarawa United

Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K

 

TEAM OF THE YEAR 

Remo Stars F.C

Rivers United F.C

Super Falcons

 

COACH OF THE YEAR 

Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars F.C

Finidi George Rivers United F.C

Justine Madugu Super Falcons

 

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD 

Kunle Soname Bet9ja

Patrick Olusegun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International

Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K

 

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 

Delta State

Kwara State

Lagos State

 

FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR 

Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

MKO Abiola Int’l Stadium           Abeokuta, Ogun State

Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State

 

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 

His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State

His Excellency, Dapo Abiodun           Ogun State

His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State

 

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD 

Bet9ja Sport Betting

GTI Financial Financial Services

MTN Nigeria Telecom

 

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD 

Bukola Olopade D.G, NSC

George Aluo Chairman, NNL

Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars FC

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT 

Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers

Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers

Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV 

Babatunde Koiki News Central Television

Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV

Mozez Praiz Supersport

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO

Olawale Adigun Wash 94.9 FM/ Sure 97.5 FM

Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM

Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM

 

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE 

Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare.com

Niyi Busari BSNSports.com.ng

Samuel Ahmadu Savid News/ Nigeriafootball.ng

 

QUEEN OF THE PITCH 

Chiamaka Nnadozie Brighton & Hove Albion Women

Esther Okoronkwo AFC Toronto

Rasheedat Ajibade PSG Feminine

 

KING OF THE PITCH 

Ademola Lookman Atalanta B.C.

Calvin Bassey Fulham F.C.

Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K.