Super Eagles and Italian Serie A goal-king, Victor Osimhen and in-form FC Barcelona Femeni forward Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees for the ninth edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards scheduled to hold in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Friday, 24th March 2023.
Osimhen, record scorer of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals (with 10 goals, achieved at the finals in Chile in 2015) has continued to bang in the goals in the Italian Serie A where he is current leading scorer, and scored four of Nigeria’s 10 goals in the record international win over Sao Tome and Principe last year summer.
There are, in total, eighteen categories of awards, viz King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award; State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme; Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the Year-Online.
Presenting the list of nominees to the NFF leadership on Thursday, President of Matchmakers Consult International (organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards), Mr. Shina Philips expressed appreciation to the NFF for its encouragement of the Awards over the years and assured that the fine canons of transparency and credibility that have taken the Awards this far will never be discountenanced for any reason.
“We are happy with the encouragement and regard that we have continued to receive from the NFF since we started the Awards in 2013. The Federation has always been there and always present at the event. We are bold to say that the Awards will forever retain its integrity, transparency and credibility.”
Responding on behalf of the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau who joined the presentation on video to wish the organizers the best going forward, NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen assured the Nigeria Pitch Awards of the Federation’s continued support as long as the tenets of integrity and credibility associated with the Awards over the years are sustained.
Also present at the presentation were NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Head of International, Dayo Enebi Achor and Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Nelson Olafisoye.
NOMINEES FOR 9TH AWARD CEREMONY
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Victor Sochima Rivers United FC
Francis Uzoho ACOmonoia Nicosia FC
Adebayo Adeleye Hapoel Jerusalem FC
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
William Troost-Ekong UnioneSportivaSalernitana 1919 FC
Zaidu Sanusi FC Porto
Calvin Bassey AFC Ajax
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Everton FC
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City F.C
Joe Aribo Southampton FC
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Ademola LookmanAtalanta B.C
Chijioke Akuneto Rivers United FC
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Monday Gift UD Granadilla Tenerife
Asisat Oshoala FC Barcelona Femení
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
KING OF THE PITCH
Ademola LookmanAtalanta B.C/
Paul Onuachu Southampton FC
Alex Iwobi Everton FC
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars
Rivers United
The Flamingos (Nigeria’s U17 Girls’ Team)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Stanley Eguma Rivers United
Gbenga Ogunbote Shooting Stars FC
Bankole Olowookere The Flamingos
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Victor Osimhen Super Eagles
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, BET9JA
Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi Former 1st Vice-President, NFF
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo State
Lagos State
Delta State
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Lagos State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Akwa Ibom State
Remo Stars Stadium Ogun State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Nyesom Wike CON Rivers State
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
MTN Nigeria Telecom
BET9JA Sport Betting
Cocacola Bottling Co.
AITEO Group Oil & Gas
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
His Excellency, Philip Shaibu Deputy Governor, Edo State
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, BET9JA
Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi Former 1st Vice-President, NFF
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Tana Aiyejina Punch Newspapers
Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers
Johnny Edward Punch Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Promise Eforgie Television Continental
Cecilia Omoregbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Yinka Oyedele Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM
Emmanuel Etim Nigeria Info 99.3 FM
Tony Bekederemo Sports Radio 88.9 Brila FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare.com
Tobi Samuel Adepoju Oganla Media
Shina Oludare Goal.com
