The reigning African Footballer of the Year and Napoli FC goal-scoring sensation, Victor Osimhen, Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface and reigning African Women Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees unveiled by organizers of the nation’s longest running football awards, the Nigeria Pitch Awards at a well-attended Press Conference yesterday in Lagos.
The Super Eagles goal poacher who had an impressive AFCON tournament and has scored 11 goals in 15 appearances for his Italian club side, ranked in four nominations in the Striker of the Year, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji and Sportsmanship award categories.
Boniface, who missed the just concluded AFCON due to injuries sustained on the eve of continental soccer event, garnered two nominations in the Striker of the Year and King of the Pitch award categories.
In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars FC), Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC) and Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC) made the shortlist while Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest FC) and Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe SK) were named in the Defender of the Year category.
The competition in the Midfielder of the Year pitched AI Hassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC) against Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City FC) and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC). Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United) NPFL top goal scoring machine last season will compete for the Striker of the Year Award with Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC) and Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen).
In the Queen of the Pitch category, Rasheedat Ajibade, Atlético de Madrid Femenino and Super Falcon winger will attempt to starve of competition from Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Paris FC and Best Woman Goalkeeper in Africa and reigning African Women Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala who is also the reigning Queen of the Pitch.
The top gong award category, King of the Pitch will be a straight fight between Osimhen (Napoli FC), Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen) and NPFL sensation, Emeka Obioma (Enyimba FC).
The Nigeria Pitch Award has emerged as the longest running football awards in the country and one of the few audited awards in Africa. The award process, which has been described as transparent and credible is dependent of votes by over 100 sport editors across the country. Voting which takes place online is coordinated by SIAO Partners, an indigenous accounting and auditing firm.
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All votes were collated and audited by different teams set up within the firm without interference from Lenders Consult International, the organizers and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Press Conference which was called to announce the shortlist of nominees for 2023 and the 10th Award Ceremony was attended by top dignitaries including Ademola Olajire, the NFF Director of Communication, Oluwadare Ojelade, representing SIAO, Tony Ubani and Kunle Salami, the President and Vice President of the Nigerian Guild of Sports Editors respectively and other sports top editors and journalists.
Photo : (L-R)Tony Ubani, President, Nigerian Guild of Sports Editors, Ademola Olajire, NFF Communications Director, Shina Philips, President, Nigeria Pitch Awards and Oluwadare Ojelade, SIAO Representative.
2023 NIGERIA PITCH AWARDS: Full List of Nominees
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
Amas Obasogie Bendel Insurance
Ojo Olorunleke Enyimba FC
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Calvin Bassey Fulham FC
Ola Aina Nottingham Forest FC
Bright Osayi-Samuel Fenerbahçe SK
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
AI Hassan Yusuf Royal Antwerp FC
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
Alex Iwobi Fulham FC
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Robert Mizo Bayelsa United
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Victor Boniface Bayer Leverkusen
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
Asisat Oshoala FC Barcelona Femení
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Emeka Obioma Enyimba FC
Victor Boniface Bayer Leverkusen
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Super Falcons
Enyimba
Remo Stars
COACH OF THE YEAR
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars
Finidi George Enyimba FC
Randy Waldrum Super Falcons
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Ahmed Musa Sivasspor
Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo
Delta
Lagos
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State.
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
Bet9ja Sport Betting
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars FC
Victor Osimhen Napoli FC
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye Chairman, NPFL Board
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Christian Okpara The Guardian Newspapers
Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers
Johnny Edward Punch Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Miyen Akiri TVC
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Yinka Oyedele Brilla 88.9 FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Tobi Adepoju Oganla Media
Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare.com
Photo: Victor Osimhen-Kung of the Pitch for 2022