Organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have revealed the 2025 nominations for the 11th edition of the annual awards, Afrosport reports.
The football accolade, instituted in 2012, was created to celebrate individuals’ contribution to the expansion and deepening of football development in the country.
Three nominees in 18 different categories have been shortlisted for this edition of the awards.
The top three selection for the “King of The Pitch” category comprises the current African Footballer of The Year and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Galatasaray leading marksman Victor Osimhen as well as Al-Kholood FC and Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong.
Queen of the Pitch category, meanwhile, has Atletico Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade, Bay FC’s Asisat Oshoala and Paris FC and reigning African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie as the top three nominees.
President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, while thanking all stakeholders including the college of voters, the media and football analysts for their continued support over the years confirmed that the core-value and the credibility of the awards remain paramount in the act of rewarding excellence.
“From inception,” he continued, “our intention was to create an award platform that has a unique character of its own. A character molded by our core-value of transparency, credibility and integrity. To achieve this, we have followed a carefully laid down award process which brings together a College of Voters comprising some of Nigeria’s knowledgeable, experienced and professional sport journalists and an independent collation body.”
“The award process has been designed in such a way that it will not only be transparent but also sustainable. This is why the award process transcend organizers’ personal influence while putting the responsibility of deciding winners in the hands of professional journalists with many years of experience, knowledge and expertise in reporting and analysing football. We are sure that our College of Voters will always make the best possible decisions in the interest of our football.”
SIAO’s Oluwadare Oyelade, who also highlighted the integrity of awards stated that the processes and procedures of selecting the nominees were subjected to high standards as a way of aligning the award to the best of global practices.
“As you all know, we still maintain and control our three-tier control and strategies for compliance by setting up three separate levels. These steps are to ensure that it aligns with best global practices and to also ensure that the codes are inputted into the designated templates and also generate reports. The second thing is to review the reports and come up with the top three nomination. There is also the third theme which is the quality control that also reviews it to show that there is accountability, transparency and integrity. We will continue our partnership with the organisers because of their integrity.”
Dr Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Director of Communications, praised the organisers for their steadfastness as they continued to impact excellence since inceptio.
He also praised the sporting media for its staunch support in giving tacit publicity to the awards.
Tony Ubani, the President of the Guild of Sports Editors encouraged the organisers to keep raising the bar and sustain the awards’ integrity.
Meanwhile, a one-minute silence was duly observed to honour the memory of one of the key members of the team and journalist Dapo Sotiminu who died last December.
NIGERIA PITCH AWARDS: FULL NOMINEES LIST FOR 11TH EDITION
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Asisat Oshoala Bay FC
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
Calvin Bassey Fulham FC
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Fulham FC
Frank Onyeka FC Augsburg
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Victor Boniface Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars FC
Rangers International FC
Edo Queens
COACH OF THE YEAR
Moses Adukwu Edo Queens FC
Fidelis Ilechukwu Rangers International FC
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars FC
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Segun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
Kunle Soname Bet9ja
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo
Lagos
Delta
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Former Governor, Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
Bet9ja Sport Betting
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
George Aluo Chairman NNL
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Charles Diya New Telegraph
Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers
Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Blessing Nwosu Silverbird TV
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Micheal Obasi Hot FM Abuja
Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Niyi Busari BSN Sports Concept
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Kunle Solaja Sports Village Square
