Nigeria’s football elite will converge on Lagos today as the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards takes centre stage at the Ibis Hotel, Toyin Street, Ikeja.

The prestigious ceremony, which celebrates outstanding contributions to Nigerian football, will feature 18 award categories covering players, coaches, clubs, administrators, journalists, states and corporate stakeholders.  

Among the biggest attractions of the night will be the battle for the King of the Pitch award, where Atlético de Madrid forward Ademola Lookman, Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen have been nominated.

Lookman, who won the King of the Pitch award in 2024, will be seeking another honour in a highly competitive field that includes two of Nigeria’s other leading international stars.  

The Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker is another headline contest, with Lookman and Osimhen facing NPFL top scorer Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.

The inclusion of Anas gives the domestic league a strong representation against two of Nigeria’s established stars playing in Europe.

The Queen of the Pitch category is equally competitive, with Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, AFC Toronto forward Esther Okoronkwo and Paris Saint-Germain Feminine star Rasheedat Ajibade in contention.  

Other player categories will see Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali and Kayode Bankole battle for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Benjamin Frederick, Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina contest the Defender of the Year award.

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, Coventry’s Frank Onyeka, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Raphael Onyedika and Beşiktaş midfielder Wilfred Ndidi are nominated for Midfielder of the Year.

The Team of the Year award will be contested by NPFL champions Remo Stars, Rivers United and the Super Falcons, while Daniel Ogunmodede, Finidi George and Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu are nominated for Coach of the Year.

The awards will also recognise contributions beyond the playing field.

For the Football Journalist of the Year – Online category, Kunle Solaja of Sportsvillagesquare.com, Niyi Busari of BSNSports.com.ng and three-time winner Samuel Ahmadu of Savid News/Nigeriafootball.ng are nominated.  

The print category features Abiodun Adewale of Punch, Johnny Edward of The Nation and Charles Diya of New Telegraph, while Babatunde Koiki, Cecilia Omorogbe and Mozez Praiz contest the television award.

In the radio category, Olawale Adigun, Anthony Bekederemo and Chuma Nnoli are nominated.

The organisers have also retained categories recognising grassroots football development, football-friendly governors, corporate sponsorship and sportsmanship.

Delta, Kwara and Lagos states are in contention for the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, while Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno are nominated for Football Friendly Governor of the Year.

Bet9ja, GTI Financial and MTN Nigeria will battle for the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award.

The 12th edition comes at a challenging period for Nigerian football, with the country recently suffering setbacks at international level.

However, Nigeria Pitch Awards President, Dr Shina Philips, said the decision to stage the ceremony at this time reflects the organisers’ continued confidence in the future of the sport.

Philips said Nigerian players competing across Europe, Africa and other parts of the world continue to provide reasons for optimism, stressing that outstanding performances deserve recognition and encouragement.

The awards were originally scheduled for an earlier date but were postponed despite the organisers having the trophies and other logistics ready.  

Since its maiden edition in Calabar in 2013, the Nigeria Pitch Awards has positioned itself as one of the platforms for recognising players, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders contributing to the development of Nigerian football.

The 12th edition is therefore expected to combine celebration with a renewed call for confidence in the country’s football ecosystem.

With several of Nigeria’s biggest football names competing across the various categories, attention will centre on who emerges with the night’s major honours, particularly the King and Queen of the Pitch awards.

The ceremony begins today in Lagos, with the country’s football community set to celebrate another generation of players and stakeholders who have distinguished themselves on and off the pitch.