Osimhen, Lookman, Bassey Lead Nominations for 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards

Nigeria’s senior men’s national team stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey headline the nominations for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, organizers announced on Tuesday, December 16, in Abuja.

The unveiling took place at a media gathering held at the Johnwood Hotel, attended by partners, members of the College of Voters, and journalists.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, reaffirmed the credibility of the voting process, which has been independently collated and audited by SIAO Partners since 2014.

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

Also speaking, Mr. Afolabi Lawal, Senior Manager at SIAO Partners, confirmed that the firm adhered strictly to due process in the collation and auditing of votes.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Media and Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire reiterated the Federation’s continued support for the awards, citing the transparency and credibility of the process.

In the flagship King of the Pitch category, reigning winner Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC) will defend his crown against Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K.) and Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC).

The Queen of the Pitch award promises a fierce contest between Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion Women), Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto), and Rasheedat Ajibade (PSG Féminine)

New Super Eagles defensive prospect Benjamin Frederick (F.C.V. Dender E.H.) will battle Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) for Defender of the Year honours.

The Midfielder of the Year category features Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), and Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş).

For the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker, Lookman and Osimhen are joined by NPFL standout Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United).

Dr. Philips also announced that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will receive the Special Achievement in Sports Award in recognition of its contributions to grassroots sports development through the Niger Delta Games.

Selected Nominees (Highlights)

Goalkeeper of the Year:

Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars / TS Galaxy)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese)
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United)

Team of the Year:
Remo Stars FC
Rivers United FC
Super Falcons

Coach of the Year:

Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars)
Finidi George (Rivers United)
Justine Madugu (Super Falcons)

Sam Okwaraji Award:

Kunle Soname
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami
Victor Osimhen

The awards ceremony date will be announced in due course, with anticipation already building across Nigeria’s football community.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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