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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Organisers of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards have unveiled leading Nigerian football stars comprising Super Eagles stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Stanley Nwabali among others as nominees for the 12th edition of the award.
The awards ceremony, according to the organisers is scheduled to hold on December 22, 2025, celebrating outstanding achievements by Nigerian footballers, coaches, administrators and journalists over the past year.
Also in the list of the nominees for Queen of the Pitch (Women) category are Super Falcons stars like Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo among others.
According to the organisers, the awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding achievements by Nigerian footballers, coaches, administrators and journalists, will hold next week December 22.
Unveiling the list, the organisers nominated Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K.), Lookman (Atalanta BC) and Calvin Bassey in the flagship King of the Pitch (Men) category, just as they featured Nnadozie, Ajibade and Okoronkwo, in the Queen of the Pitch (Women) category to recognise excellence in women football.
Other players nominated include Maduka Okoye, Nwabali and Kayode Bankole for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika are shortlisted for Midfielder of the Year.
On the Defender of the Year category, players like Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina were nominated, just as Lookman, Osimhen and Yusuf Anas made the list of Strikers of the Year.
For Coach of the Year, the nominees are Daniel Ogunmodede, Finidi George and Justin Madugu, while Remo Stars FC, Rivers United FC and the Super Falcons are listed for Team of the Year.
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Additional award categories include Football Pitch of the Year, with nominees Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta; Corporate Sponsor of Football Award, with BetNaija nominated; and Football Friendly Governor, recognising Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State).
The organisers also confirmed the reinstatement of the Rashidi Yekini Award for the highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Ahead of the 12th edition, organisers Lenders Consult International announced plans to introduce an annual sports conference, to be held alongside the awards ceremony.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, said that the initiative is aimed at expanding the vision of the Nigeria Pitch Awards beyond recognition to provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration and investment in Nigeria’s sports sector.
“We are pleased to announce our annual sports conference. It has been in the works for a long time and will feature both local and international speakers. The goal is to renew national focus on sports and create opportunities for administrators, investors and policymakers.
“Award winners will be determined by a College of Voters comprising over 100 sports editors and journalists from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Voting is independently audited by SIAO Partners.
Each voter is permitted to nominate two candidates per category, with the first choice attracting five points and the second three points.
“The voting portal remains open for six weeks, following the circulation of revised criteria and voting guidelines to all eligible voters,” Phillips said reaffirming confidence in the integrity of the process and describing the awards’ journey as one built on courage, consistency and collaboration.
