Sanwo-Olu, Oshoala, Ahmed Musa, MTN listed
Super Eagles trio of Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) , Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) , William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood) as well as billionaire businessman, Kunle Soname, and Ahmed Musa top the list of nominees with more than one entries as organisers yesterday revealed the identities of contenders across 18 categories for the 11th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Yesterday’s unveiling ceremony held at the Bon Hotel in Lagos, was witnessed by the Director of Communications of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , Dr. Ademola Olajire who stood in for the federation’s President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau along with notable senior sports editors led by Mr. Tony Ubani of the Vanguard as well as a representative of SIAO Partners, the audit firm in charge of the collating of the awards.
Regarded as the flagship individual’s recognition awards in Nigerian football, the 2024 Pitch Awards will see Osimhen, Ademola and Troost-Ekong battle for the ultimate King of The Pitch Award even as Osimhen and Ademola contend with Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface for the Striker of the Year Award.
Troost-Ekong , in the meantime, is also on the shortlist of three for the Defender of The Year along with English Premiership duo of Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) and Calvin Bassey (Fulham).
Aside the Super Eagles’ triumvirate, the owner of Remo Stars, Soname along with ex-Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, are both listed for the Sam Okwaraji Award and Sportsmanship Award.
Soname’s interest is further extended as his Remo Stars FC and Remo Stars Stadium are equally in the running for the Team of the Year and Pitch of the Year Awards while his Bet9Ja outfit, will also slug it out for the Corporate Sponsor Of Football Award along with GTI Financial and telecom giants, MTN.
For the Football Friendly Governor of The Year , it would be battle royale among Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as well as Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki
President of the Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, said at yesterday’s ceremony that the awards would not have stood the test of time without the support of stakeholders especially the NFF, the College of Voters and the media in particular.
“We recognise the invaluable role of the Nigeria media from whom we have enjoyed tremendous support,” Philips said. “Right from inception in 2012, sport editors, correspondents, reporters and pundits have demonstrated outstanding faith in the Nigeria Pitch Awards.”
He added: “We have also benefited from the support of the President, Management Team and staff of the Nigeria Football Federation. The Nigeria Pitch Awards has been in partnership with the Federation from its very first edition in Calabar in November 2013.
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“I am pleased to state that the collaboration has continued to grow stronger by the years.
“The presence of the Federation’s Director of Communication is a testament to the Federation’s unflinching support for the Awards and its commitment to the development of the game in the country.”
For the upcoming 11th edition of the Pitch Awards, five-time Women’s African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC) will fight for the Queen of the Pitch Award with Super Falcons’ captain Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético de Madrid Femenino ) and two-time CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie(Paris FC)
NIGERIA PITCH AWARDS: NOMINEES FOR 2024 EDITION
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Maduka Okoye Udinese Calcio
Stanley Nwabali Chippa United
Kayode Bankole Remo Stars
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Ola Aina Nottingham
William Troost-Ekong Al-Kholood
Calvin Bassey Fulham
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Alex Iwobi Fulham
Frank Onyeka FC Augsburg
Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City
STRIKER OF THE YEAR
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray
Victor Boniface Leverkusen
Ademola Lookman ` Atalanta
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars
Rangers
Edo Queens
COACH OF THE YEAR
Moses Adukwu Edo Queens
Fidelis Ilechukwu Rangers
Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars
SAM OKWARAJI AWARD
Segun Odegbami Nigerian Ex-International
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars
Kunle Soname Bet9ja
STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Edo
Lagos
Delta
FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR
Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State
Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State
Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR
His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
His Excellency, Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki Former Governor, Edo State
CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom
Bet9ja Sport Betting
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
George Aluo Chairman NNL
Hon. Kunle Soname Chairman, Remo Stars
Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars FC
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT
Charles Diya New Telegraph
Abiodun Adewale Punch Newspapers
Johnny Edward The Nation Newspapers
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV
Mozez Praiz Supersport
Blessing Nwosu Silverbird TV
Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO
Micheal Obasi Hot FM Abuja
Chuma Nnoli Nigeria Info FM
Olawale Adigun Mainland FM
Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM
FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE
Niyi Busari BSN Sports Concept
Samuel Ahmadu Savid News
Kunle Solaja Sports Village Square
QUEEN OF THE PITCH
Rasheedat Ajibade Atlético de Madrid Femenino
Asisat Oshoala Bay FC
Chiamaka Nnadozie Paris FC
KING OF THE PITCH
Victor Osimhen Galatasaray
Ademola Lookman Atalanta
William Troost-Ekong Al-Kholood