The organisers of the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards have officially unveiled the nominees for the 2025 edition, with Super Eagles trio Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey headlining the shortlist for the coveted ‘King of the Pitch’ (Men) award.
The nominees were announced at a stakeholder luncheon held at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, an event attended by prominent football administrators, sports editors, partners, and members of the College of Voters
The Men’s Top Prize
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is the man to beat, vying for the award for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall. The former African Footballer of the Year previously claimed the title in 2022 and has won the last two editions.
He faces stiff competition from Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, who is seeking his second win after securing the award in 2023. Fulham left-back Calvin Bassey rounds out the trio, hoping to secure a debut victory following an impressive campaign for both club and country.
Queen of the Pitch
In the women’s category, the ‘Queen of the Pitch’ award features a strong Super Falcons contingent. Paris Saint-Germain’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Esther Okoronkwo have all been recognised for their outstanding performances over the past year with their national team and respective clubs.
Positional Awards
Several other key categories saw fierce competition announced:
Goalkeeper of the Year: Udinese’s Maduka Okoye faces competition from Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali and Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole.
Defender of the Year: Genk’s Benjamin Fredrick, Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina are in contention.
Midfielder of the Year: The shortlist includes Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, and Raphael Onyedika.
Striker of the Year: Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Yusuf Anas will battle for the honours.
Discover more from ParrotMouth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
