Nominees for the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards were unveiled at a Thursday ceremony in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Expectedly, the nomination list is packed full of notable Nigerian footballers who have made significant impacts in their careers both for themselves and the nation in the year 2024.
Clubs, coaches, administrators, state governments and governors are not left out as the Nigeria Pitch Awards recognise, celebrate and honour those who have contributed in no small ways to the country’s football development.
President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, told newsmen in Lagos at the BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, that the awards processes right from voting make it unique and standout, adding that “from inception, our intention was to create an award platform that has a unique character of its own; a character moulded by our core values of transparency, credibility and integrity. To achieve this, we have followed a carefully laid out award process which brings together a College of Voters comprising some of Nigeria’s most knowledgeable, experienced and professional sports journalists and an independent collation body. As organizers, we are very proud of and deeply appreciative of our College of Voters whose decisions year after year have shown them to be true and selfless patriots.
“The award process has been designed in such a way that it will not only be transparent but also sustainable. This is why the award process transcends organizers’ personal influence while putting the responsibility of deciding winners in the hands of professional journalists with many years of experience, knowledge and expertise in reporting and analysing football. We are sure that our College of Voters will always make the best possible decisions in the interest of our football. In the same vein, our independent vote collation body is a vastly experienced and professional player in Nigeria’s accounting and auditing sector. SIAO Partners which has over two decades of experience in accounting, prides itself as Nigeria’s largest indigenous professional services firm,” he said.
Representative of SIAO Partners, Oluwadare Ojelade further reiterated the integrity of the voting process, which he said gone through a painstaking independent and transparent process determined solely by the voters who are mainly sports editors, correspondents and reporters.
According to Ojelade, voting for the 11th Nigeria Pitch Awards began on 25 November 2024 and ended on 18 January 2025, while collation of the votes by the auditing firm, SIAO Partners, was done between 6-31 January when the nominees emerged.
FULL LIST OF THE NOMINEES
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Asisat Oshoala Bay FC
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC
Calvin Bassey Fulham FC
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Fulham FC
Frank Onyeka FC Augsburg
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Victor Boniface Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars FC
Rangers International FC
Edo Queens
COACH OF THE YEAR
Moses Adukwu Edo Queens FC
Fidelis Ilechukwu Rangers International FC
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars FC
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Segun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
Kunle Soname Bet9ja
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo
Lagos
Delta
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Former Governor, Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
Bet9ja Sport Betting
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
George Aluo Chairman NNL
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Charles Diya New Telegraph
Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers
Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Blessing Nwosu Silverbird TV
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Micheal Obasi Hot FM Abuja
Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Niyi Busari BSN Sports Concept
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Kunle Solaja Sports Village Square
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Asisat Oshoala Bay FC
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray S.K
Ademola Lookman Atalanta BC
William Troost-Ekong Al-kholood FC