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Tag: Osimhen

Osimhen, Lookman, Bassey, Ajibade Head Nominations for 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards

Wale busari08 mins

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 Media and Communications, 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 stave 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, 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. Detailed list of other nominees: 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.

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Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade Among Finalists For 2025 CAF Player of the Year Awards

Wale busari03 mins

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade have been named among the finalists for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year awards, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Bayelsa Queens forward Shakirat Moshood also earning recognition in their respective categories. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the final shortlist on Sunday ahead of the gala ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, in Rabat, Morocco. The awards honour the continent’s top performers for the period between January 6 and October 15, 2025. On the men’s side, Osimhen, who has been in impressive form at Galatasaray, joins Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain as finalists for the CAF African Player of the Year award. Osimhen’s inclusion continues Nigeria’s strong presence in the men’s category, following Ademola Lookman in 2024 and Osimhen himself in 2023. In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Rasheedat Ajibade, who played a pivotal role for Paris Saint-Germain and led the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON title, is shortlisted alongside Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR. CAF praised the finalists for their exceptional performances for both club and country throughout the season. The 2025 CAF Awards will celebrate individual excellence as well as the achievements of clubs and national teams, shining a spotlight on players and coaches who have made a significant impact on African football over the past year. Nigeria’s strong representation across multiple categories underscores the country’s growing influence and the depth of its talent on the continental stage.

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Victor Osimhen Fires Hat-Trick As Galatasaray Beat Ajax 3–0 To Make Champions League History

Wale busari04 mins

Victor Osimhen wrote another glorious chapter in his career on Wednesday night, becoming only the second Nigerian ever to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League as Galatasaray defeated Ajax 3–0 at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. The 26-year-old striker delivered a complete centre-forward performance, scoring twice from the penalty spot and once from open play to seal an emphatic win for the Turkish champions. His heroics also made him the first Galatasaray player to net a Champions League hat-trick since Burak Yilmaz’s treble against Cluj in 2012. After a cagey first half, Osimhen broke the deadlock in the 59th minute with a thunderous header that left Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer rooted to the spot. He doubled Galatasaray’s advantage just seven minutes later, coolly slotting home from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed a handball inside the box. He completed his historic night in the 78th minute, once again showing his composure from 12 yards as he sent Pasveer the wrong way following another handball decision against Gerald Alders. His celebration, filled with emotion and pride, drew thunderous applause from the traveling Galatasaray fans. Osimhen’s treble places him alongside Yakubu Ayegbeni, who was the first Nigerian to achieve the feat when he scored three goals for Maccabi Haifa in a 3–0 win over Olympiacos on September 24, 2002. The former African Footballer of the Year has been in unstoppable form, scoring 12 goals in his last eight European matches for Galatasaray. His recent run includes braces against Tottenham and Bodø/Glimt, and goals against AZ Alkmaar, Dynamo Kyiv, and Liverpool. Wednesday’s performance also cemented Osimhen’s place in history as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 15 goals, surpassing Obafemi Martins’ record of 10. It was a double milestone for the striker, marking both his 50th appearance for Galatasaray and his 20th in the Champions League — bringing him within one game of matching Victor Ikpeba and Celestine Babayaro’s record for the most UCL appearances by a Nigerian. With 25 goals now in European club competitions, Osimhen has also overtaken Martins to become Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer in UEFA tournaments, underlining his status as one of Africa’s greatest football exports.

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Osimhen Nominated Again For 2025 CAF Men’s Player Of The Year Award

Wale busari02 mins

Victor Osimhen has been named among the top 10 contenders for the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, reaffirming his status as one of Africa’s most outstanding footballers. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the shortlist on Tuesday, October 22, featuring a mix of familiar names and rising stars across the continent. Osimhen, who won the award in 2023 after an incredible season with Napoli, is once again in the running following another year of strong performances for both club and country. Also on the list are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr, among others. CAF stated that the 2025 award will recognize achievements recorded between January 6 and October 15, 2025. Osimhen’s inclusion highlights his consistency at the top level and his continued impact in European and African football, as he looks to add a second CAF Player of the Year title to his growing list of accolades.

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Breaking: Osimhen’s Hat-Trick Brightens Super Eagles’ World Cup Hope

Wale busari01 mins

An hat-trick from Victor Osimhen against the Squirrels of Benin Republic on Tuesday has boosted Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Galatasaray of Turkey forward struck after three minutes into the game after connecting with a sublime pass from Samuel Chukwueze. Osimhen doubled the lead for Nigeria with an header in 37th minute of the tie. The red-hot forward completed his hat-trick with another header in the 51st minute. Nigeria finished second place with 17 points in Group C of the qualifiers behind South Africa, who came tops in the group and qualified automatically for the mundial. Brentford of England midfielder Frank Onyeka completed the routing of the Beninoise on the dot 90 minutes to make it four nil. Former African Champions will go through another round of play-off to punch her ticket for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup.

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Victor Osimhen Claims He Was Pressured Into Napoli Move While His Father Was Dying

Wale busari04 mins

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has opened up about feeling pressured into his 2020 move to Napoli, claiming agents and club officials pushed the transfer while his father was critically ill. In a testimony leaked by La Repubblica, Osimhen told Italy’s Guardia di Finanza that he was excluded from key contract discussions and never received a proper draft of his deal. Negotiations were led by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and Lille officials, leaving the Nigerian forward frustrated and sidelined. The summer 2020 transfer from Lille to Napoli, worth €70 million, was one of Europe’s biggest moves that year, but it has since been shrouded in controversy. Osimhen recounted the ordeal amid an ongoing investigation into alleged false accounting connected to the deal. “My previous agent, Jean Gerard, was only focused on the transfer and not my father’s health. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about football; I just wanted to know how he was doing,” Osimhen said. He recalled a meeting in Nice with Gerard, Lille president Gerard Lopez, and Luis Campos, where he was told the transfer was already agreed in principle—a deal of which he had no prior knowledge. Tragically, his father passed away during the negotiations. “I was extremely angry with Lille and my agent because I hadn’t been able to see him before he died. They even told me I would have to leave for Naples the next day, unaware of my father’s death,” he said. Despite his anger, Osimhen went to Naples, met the coach and De Laurentiis, but still had not received a formal contract. When he requested one from his agent, he was given only “a pseudo-agreement.” Feeling misled, he considered returning to France but eventually replaced Gerard with William D’Avila as his new agent. The transfer was eventually finalized at the end of July 2020 in Lille, in the presence of Napoli and Lille officials and Osimhen’s new representative. The deal is now under investigation as prosecutors probe alleged financial irregularities, including claims that both clubs inflated the value of lesser-known players to meet financial regulations. Osimhen’s transfer initially valued at €50 million rose to €70 million, including €20 million in additional player exchanges. Youth players Luigi Liguori, Claudio Manzi, and Ciro Palmieri, who never played for Lille, were immediately loaned out, raising questions about their valuations. Prosecutors in Rome are considering whether Napoli president De Laurentiis and other officials should stand trial over alleged accounting manipulations tied to Osimhen’s transfer.  

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Osimhen Penalty Sinks Liverpool as Injuries and VAR Controversy Compound Champions League Defeat

Fola Badmus03 mins

Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty was enough to condemn Liverpool to a second consecutive Champions League defeat, as Galatasaray secured a 1-0 victory in Istanbul on a frustrating night for Arne Slot’s side. The loss marks back-to-back defeats for Liverpool for the second time under the Dutch manager and came with added concerns after injuries to goalkeeper Alisson Becker and striker Hugo Ekitike. The game also included a controversial VAR decision that denied Liverpool a potential late penalty. Slot surprised many with his team selection, leaving Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak on the bench, and opting to start Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing. Despite that, Liverpool’s defensive issues resurfaced early, with Dominik Szoboszlai struggling at right-back. Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, who consistently troubled Liverpool’s right side, forced a good early save from Alisson before Liverpool wasted a golden opportunity at the other end. Ekitike failed to finish when played through on goal, slipping as he tried to round goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Cody Gakpo’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Ismail Jakobs. Just seconds later, Liverpool were punished. Yilmaz again beat Szoboszlai and was caught in the face by the defender’s arm inside the box. Referee Clément Turpin pointed to the spot, and Victor Osimhen calmly converted the penalty down the middle. Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, but clear chances were limited. Salah and Isak were introduced in the second half, but their impact was minimal. The team’s frustration peaked late on when VAR declined to award a penalty for a possible handball, leaving the visitors with nothing to show for their efforts. The night ended on a sour note with both Alisson and Ekitike leaving the pitch injured, adding to Liverpool’s growing concerns ahead of a busy schedule. Despite creating more chances and leading the expected goals tally, Liverpool came away empty-handed once again. Slot now faces pressure to steady the ship as his side struggles for form both domestically and in Europe.

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Osimhen revives Super Eagles’s World Cup hope in Kigali 

Fola Badmus02 mins

A brace from Galatasaray of Turkey striker, Victor Osimhen were all the Super Eagles needed to revive hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by United States of America, Canada and Mexico. Osimhen broke deadlock in the 11th minute when he tapped in a free kick by his successor and the current African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman.  Osimhen broke loose and shipped the ball past the onrushing Rwandan goalkeeper to increase the tally at the close of the first half of the tie. The former African champions now placed fourth with 6 points behind South Africa, who currently the log with 10 points, while the Republic of Benin and Rwanda are on eight and nine points respectively. Nigeria however must consolidate on her winning streak when they host the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Match Day 6 of the Qualifying series in Uyo next week, Tuesday. While Nigeria tackles Zimbabwe in Uyo, The Squirrels of Benin will play host to South Africa, and Lesotho would be Rwanda’s guests.        

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