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