…Osimhen, Lookman, Bassey, Ajibade Headline Nominations For 12th edition
... Governors Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, and Umo Eno get nominations
Super Eagles attackers ,Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray FC, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta in Italy, defender Calvin Bassey of Fulham FC in England headline lists of nominees as organizers announced during a luncheon for journalists in Abuja on Tuesday 16th December, 2025 for the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Governors of Lagos, Ogun and Akwa-Ibom, states also got nominations according to the organizers.
In his welcome address, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Dr. Shina Philips said the event was put together to celebrate partners, members of the College of Voters, and journalists.
While reiterating the confidence in the voting process, Philips thanked SIAO Partners, the accounting firm that has been collating and auditing the results since 2014.
In his words: “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.
Shina Philips, further said the award is a platform established to inspire individual footballers and key stakeholders to higher levels of commitment and professionalism and also to serve as a catalyst for government and corporate entities to dedicate more resources to the development of sports in Nigeria.
“The choice of award categories on this platform is part of our policy to deliberately target and highlight the contributions of individual footballers, coaches, administrators, journalists, government personalities, on the one hand, and national, sub-national, and corporate bodies, on the other hand, to the development of sports in general and football in particular.
“While rewarding hard work and patriotism, the Nigeria Pitch Awards platform concomitantly plays a pivotal role by alerting government and administrators to the need to re-engineer our sports processes, renew our sports infrastructure, and stimulate national interest in developing sports as a viable, revenue-generating industry. We see this as our enduring desire,” said Philips.
Representing, SIAO Partners, Mr. Afolabi Lawal, Senior Manager at the accounting firm responsible for collation and auditing stated that the accounting firm adhered to all due process while collating and auditing the results.
Speaking earlier at the event, Dr Victor Ademola Olajire , director of Media and Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who represented the NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, commended the organisers for initiating the award while describing the Awards as a noble project.
According to him the awards has been transparent over the years as there have never been any complaints or grumbling by nominees.
Olajire however promised that the NFF will continue to give its support to the awards.
In his words: “Awards is all about motivation and to encourage stakeholders to continue what they are doing. The award will continue to enjoy the support of the NFF as it has become a very noble project,” .
Announcing the names of nominees, Pastor Nelson Olafisoye, Chief Operating Officer COO of Nigeria Pitch Awards assured partners , journalists and other stakeholders that the awards process would maintain its credibility and transparency.
In the King of the Pitch category, Atalanta of Italy striker, Ademola Lookman, the 2024 winner of the award, will compete with inform Galatasaray FC goal poacher Victor Osimhen and Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United FC of Lafia current league leaders of the Nigerian Premier Football League NPFL.
The Queen of the Pitch Award will see current CAF women’s goalkeeper of the year Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, and Rasheedat Ajibade of PSG Feminine lock horns.
Defender of the year category will pit Benjamin Frederick (F.C.V. Dender E.H.), against old horses; Calvin Bassey (Fulham F.C.) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest F.C.)
The Midfielder of the Year category will see English Premiership duo of Alex Iwobi (Fulham F.C.), Frank Onyeka (Brentford F.C.), against Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), and Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş J.K. Turkey).
In other categories, the award for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year will be a contest between Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
Organizers 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,” according to Shina Philips.
The ceremony had in attendance veteran journalists , broadcasters, senior managers from SIAO Partners and other stakeholders such as Victor Iroele of Silverbird TV and former chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN FCT chapter, Mr Kelechi Onwudiwe current chairman SWAN FCT chapter, Dr Ademola Olajire, NFF Media and Communications Director, Mr Afolabi Lawal, Senior Manager, SIAO Partners, and Miss Victory also of SIAO Partners, and a host of other dignitaries.
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
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
