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

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
READ ALSO: Osimhen, Oshoala, Rivers United Nominated For Pitch Awards
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
READ ALSO: FULL LIST: Tems, Other 2023 Grammy Awards Winners
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
READ ALSO: Full List: Wizkid Nominated For Nickelodeon Awards 2023 ‘Favorite Global Star’ Award
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare.com
Tobi Samuel Adepoju Oganla Media
Shina Oludare Goal.com
Sports
EPL: Mikel Obi Reveals Why Chelsea Failed To Beat Arsenal in 1-1 Draw

Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has claimed Chelsea failed to defeat Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, because of an early red card to Moises Caicedo.
The two London rivals played out a pulsating 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Caicedo was sent off in the 38th minute following a VAR check.
READ ALSO:EPL: Why Arsenal Could Win The Title This Season – Guardiola
But it was Chelsea who took the lead after the break, thanks to Trevor Chalobah’s header.
But the Gunners equalized through Mikel Merino.
So far this season, Chelsea have received seven red cards in 20 games across all competitions this season.
READ ALSO:EPL: Alan Smith Names Only Two Clubs To Compete For Title
“That’s four red cards this season; it’s not good enough. I’ve spoken about it; the manager needs to talk with the players, because it’s costing us games as well,” Mikel Obi said on his podcast.
“If you look at that game, if we finished with eleven men, I think we could’ve won. Maybe not easily, but comfortably, we could’ve secured a win.”
Sports
EPL: Slot Reveals When Salah Will Leave For AFCON

Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has revealed that Mohamed Salah was “not happy” to be dropped for their 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday.
Salah was named on the bench at the London Stadium for the Premier League fixture.
Slot took the bold decision, as he looked to arrest a poor run of form, that saw the Reds lose nine of 12 matches.
READ ALSO:EPL: Berbatov Names Team That Can ‘Surprise’ Arsenal In Title Race
Salah was not summoned from the bench for the entire 90 minutes, as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sealed victory.
“It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us,” Slot said.
“I say that mildly as he’s been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future. He wasn’t happy he wasn’t starting but he wasn’t the only one.”
READ ALSO:EPL: Man Utd Suffer Fresh Injury Blow Ahead Of Everton Clash
Salah could yet return to the starting line-up as Liverpool host Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
The 33-year-old will remain available for the next four matches, before he leaves to join Egypt’s squad for the African Cup of Nations.
“It’s 15 December,” Slot confirmed.
“But always in these situations there is the player and the national team involved and there are always talks about what is best for all three of us.”
Sports
Davido Reacts As Gov Adeleke Dumps PDP

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted to the shock resignation of his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The singer kept it short but loaded, posting “Jeje… ” widely interpreted as a subtle message of calmness, quiet movement, or strategic withdrawal as the political storm around the governor intensifies.
Governor Adeleke’s resignation, though only discovered on Monday night was actually tendered on 4 November 2025, ahead of the party’s national convention in Ibadan. His aide, Olawale Rasheed, leaked the letter online, confirming the governor had walked away from the troubled party weeks ago.
READ ALSO:Gov Adeleke Resigns From PDP
In the letter addressed to his Ward 2 chairman in Ede North, Adeleke cited the unresolved crisis at the PDP national level as the reason for quitting. He appreciated the party for backing his rise as senator and later governor.
The revelation has thrown today’s scheduled Osun 2026 governorship primary into confusion. While the state chapter announced a postponement due to factional firestorms, the National Working Committee insists the primary must hold — even though Adeleke remains the only aspirant who bought the form.
There is growing speculation that the governor is now eyeing a second term under the Accord Party, which several of his aides are rumoured to have already infiltrated and taken over in Osun.
His earlier attempt to defect to the APC reportedly hit a brick wall, with party leaders rejecting his move.
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