Sports

Pitch Awards: Players, Journalists, Edo, Delta, Others Jostle For Glory In 18 Categories [Full List]

Published

3 years ago

February 9, 2023

Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, including in-form FC Barcelona Femeni forward, Asisat Oshoala, and other Nigerian players are all jostling for the ninth edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

The awards is scheduled to hold in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Friday, March 24, 2023.

This year’s edition has 18 categories of awards which include, 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.

The nominees for the awards are:

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Victor Sochima Rivers United FC

Francis Uzoho AC Omonoia Nicosia FC

Adebayo Adeleye Hapoel Jerusalem FC

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

William Troost-Ekong Unione Sportiva Salernitana 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 Lookman Atalanta 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 Lookman Atalanta B.C/

Paul Onuachu Southampton FC

Alex Iwobi Everton FC

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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

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

Sports

AFCON 2025: Lookman Scores Winner As Super Eagles Start Campaign With 2–1 Victory Over Tanzania

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Ademola Lookman scored what proved to be the decisive goal as Nigeria beat Tanzania 2-1 in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles came into the match as heavy favourites to win and dominated the opening exchanges.

After coming close a few times, the three-time champions took the lead through Semi Ajayi.

The ball was recycled following a corner-kick, before Alex Iwobi crossed it into the area for Ajayi to head home.

Tanzania equalized after Charles M’Mombwa found himself unmarked inside the area.

But two minutes later, Nigeria struck the winner through Lookman, who took a few touches and finished with his left foot.

Sports

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.