Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman have been nominated for the prestigious ‘King of the Pitch’ category of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Organisers of the annual football awards announced the nominees for the 12th edition at a stakeholders’ luncheon held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Osimhen topped the nomination list with nominations in three categories, including the Sam Okwaraji Award and the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker, where he will compete with Lookman and Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.
Bassey also earned a nomination in the Defender of the Year category alongside Benjamin Frederick and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina.
This marks the seventh time Osimhen has been nominated for the ‘King of the Pitch’ award, which he has won three consecutive times in the past. Lookman, meanwhile, is seeking his second win after emerging winner at the 11th edition.
In the women’s category, Super Falcons stars Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo were nominated for the ‘Queen of the Pitch’ award in recognition of their impressive performances for club and country.
Nominees for the Midfielder of the Year award include Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika and Wilfred Ndidi, while the Goalkeeper of the Year category features Maduka Okoye of Udinese, Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United and Kayode Bankole of Remo Stars.
For Coach of the Year, Finidi George of Rivers United, Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars and WAFCON 2024-winning coach Justin Madugu were nominated.
The Team of the Year category will be contested by the Super Falcons, Remo Stars FC and Rivers United FC.
Other categories announced include Football Pitch of the Year, with MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, and Remo Stars Stadium, Ogun, nominated.
Delta, Kwara and Lagos states were nominated for the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme award, while Bet9ja, GTI Financial and MTN Nigeria will compete for the Corporate Sponsor of Football award.
Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos were nominated for the Football Friendly Governor of the Year category. Other categories include the Sportsmanship Award and Football Journalist of the Year (Print, TV, Radio and Online).
Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr Shina Philips, commended members of the College of Voters for their professionalism, noting that the nomination process followed strict guidelines that have guided the awards since inception.
Philips said the awards were designed to recognise and inspire footballers and stakeholders while encouraging greater government and corporate investment in sports development.
He also announced that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would be honoured with the Special Achievement in Sports Award for its contributions through the Niger Delta Games.
According to him, plans are underway to introduce an annual international sports conference as part of the awards programme, with the date and venue of the 12th award ceremony to be announced after the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The luncheon was attended by football administrators, partners, sports editors, members of the College of Voters and media representatives.