Victor Osimhen and several top Nigerian football stars have emerged as leading nominees for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, following the official unveiling of nominees at an event held at Johnwood Hotel, Abuja.
Founder and President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Dr Shina Philips, reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to credibility, transparency and professionalism, describing the awards as a trusted platform for recognising excellence in Nigerian football.
Speaking at the luncheon, Philips said the event marked the third in a series of stakeholder engagements organised to appreciate support received over the past 12 years, while also serving as the formal announcement of nominees for the 2025 edition. He disclosed that voting commenced on October 29 and ended on November 18, 2025, with what he described as a satisfactory nationwide response.
Philips noted that since its inception in 2012, the Nigeria Pitch Awards has been guided by strict nomination and voting guidelines introduced in 2013. He commended members of the College of Voters—made up of sports editors and journalists across the country—for their professionalism and dedication.
According to him, vote collation, auditing and verification were handled by SIAO Partners, the awards’ long-standing Vote Collation and Verification partner. He expressed confidence in the integrity of the process, praising the firm for over a decade of consistent professionalism.
Beyond celebrating excellence, Philips said the awards were designed to stimulate increased government and private-sector investment in sports development. He explained that the categories were carefully selected to recognise the contributions of footballers, coaches, administrators, journalists, government officials and corporate organisations to the growth of football and sports in Nigeria.
In a major highlight, Philips announced plans to introduce an annual international Sports Conference as part of the Nigeria Pitch Awards programme. He said the conference would bring together local and international sports managers to share ideas, adopt modern sports management practices and help position Nigeria’s sports industry as a self-sustaining, revenue- and employment-generating sector, with particular emphasis on strengthening domestic leagues.
He also disclosed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will receive the Special Achievement in Sports Award in recognition of its role in sports development through the Niger Delta Games, an initiative aimed at discovering and nurturing talents in the region.
Philips added that the date and venue for the 12th Award Ceremony, as well as the proposed Sports Conference, would be announced shortly after the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. He thanked the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation for their sustained support since 2012, congratulated all nominees and urged them to see their nominations as a call to higher commitment.
At the event, nominees across several categories were unveiled. The Goalkeeper of the Year nominees are Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars & TS Galaxy FC), Maduka Okoye (Udinese Calcio) and Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United FC).
Defender of the Year nominees include Benjamin Frederick (FCV Dender EH), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest FC).
For Midfielder of the Year, Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge) and Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş JK) made the shortlist. The Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker of the Year features Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC), Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United) and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray SK).
Nominees for Team of the Year are Remo Stars FC, Rivers United FC and the Super Falcons, while Coach of the Year contenders are Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars FC), Finidi George (Rivers United FC) and Justine Madugu (Super Falcons).
Other categories include the 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 Football, Sportsmanship Award, and Football Journalist of the Year awards across print, television, radio and online platforms.
The Queen of the Pitch nominees are Chiamaka Nnadozie, Esther Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade, while the King of the Pitch category features Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Victor Osimhen.
The Nigeria Pitch Awards is regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious football honours, celebrating excellence while promoting reforms and sustainable growth in Nigerian sports.
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
