Celebrating Excellence in Nigerian Football

The 10th edition of the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards is set to captivate the city of Uyo on Saturday, 8th June at the Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resorts. This landmark event promises to be a celebration of excellence, as the football fraternity eagerly anticipates the unveiling of the deserving winners across 18 award categories.

A Decade of Uncommon Transformation

Shina Phillips, the President of Nigeria Pitch Awards, has underscored the significance of this milestone edition, emphasizing the remarkable journey of the awards over the past decade. With a steadfast commitment to authenticity, transparency, and credibility, the Nigeria Pitch Awards has garnered unwavering support from the football community, including the endorsement of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Phillips expressed his team’s unwavering dedication to delivering an unforgettable event, one that not only honors outstanding football talent but also serves as a platform to rally support for the Super Eagles in their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against South Africa on Friday, 7th June.

Recognizing Excellence and Support

Nominees across various categories, including Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, Football Pitch, Football-Friendly Governor, and Corporate Sponsor, have already emerged. The anticipation surrounding the announcement of the winners is palpable, as the football community eagerly awaits to celebrate the achievements of these exceptional individuals and entities.

Uniting in Celebration

The awards ceremony is not only a testament to the talent and dedication within Nigerian football but also a symbol of unity and collaboration. It serves as an opportunity to express gratitude to the NFF, the Super Eagles, partners, and supporters for their unwavering backing over the past decade.

As the stage is set for the grand event, the Nigeria Pitch Awards stands resolute in its commitment to upholding the core values of transparency, integrity, and credibility, ensuring that the spirit of excellence continues to shine brightly in Nigerian football for years to come.

The categories

Goalkeeper of the Year: Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK)

Midfielder of the Year: Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)

Striker of the Year: Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)

Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC)

King of the Pitch: Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Emeka Obioma (Enyimba FC); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)

Team of the Year: Super Falcons; Enyimba FC; Remo Stars

Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars); Finidi George (Enyimba FC); Randy Waldrum (Super Falcons)

Sam Okwaraji Award: Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Ahmed Musa; Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars)

State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme: Edo State; Delta State; Lagos State

Football Pitch of the Year: Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos; Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo

Football-Friendly Governor of the Year: His Excellency Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State); His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State); His Excellency Godwin Obaseki (Edo State)

Corporate Sponsor of Football: Bet9ja (Sport Betting); GTI (Financial Services); MTN (Telecom)

Sportsmanship Award: Hon. Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye (Chairman, NPFL Board)

Football Journalist of the Year (Print): Christian Okpara (The Guardian); Charles Diya (New Telegraph); Johnny Edward (Punch Newspapers)

Football Journalist of the Year (TV): Miyen Akiri (TVC); Mozez Praiz (SuperSport); Cecilia Omorogbe (Channels TV)

Football Journalist of the Year (Radio): Olawale Adigun (Mainland FM); Yinka Oyedele (Brila 88.9 FM); Anthony Bekederemo (Brila 88.9 FM)

Football Journalist of the Year (Online): Samuel Ahmadu (Savid News); Tobi Adepoju (Oganla Media); Kunle Solaja (sportsvillagesquare.com)