Organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards on Tuesday unveiled the nominees for the 12th edition of the prestigious football honours, with Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie topping the list across key categories.
The announcement was made at a stakeholders’ luncheon held at Johnwood Hotel, Wuse, Abuja, where football administrators, sports editors, members of the College of Voters and media representatives gathered to witness the official unveiling of nominees ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for December 22, 2025.
In the flagship King of the Pitch (Men) category, Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray S.K.), Lookman (Atalanta BC) and Calvin Bassey emerged as contenders, while the Queen of the Pitch (Women) category features Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo.
Other major categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, with Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali and Kayode Bankole nominated, and Midfielder of the Year, featuring Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika.
For Defender of the Year, the nominees are Benjamin Fredrick, Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina, while Osimhen, Lookman and Yusuf Anas will contest the Striker of the Year award.
In the media category, Football Journalist of the Year (Online) nominees include Niyi Busari (BSN Sports), Samuel Ahmadu and Kunle Solaja of Sports Village Square.
The Coach of the Year shortlist features Daniel Ogunmodede, Finidi George and Justin Madugu, while Team of the Year nominees are Remo Stars FC, Rivers United FC and the Super Falcons.
Additional categories unveiled include Football Pitch of the Year, with Godswill Akpabio Stadium and Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, nominated; Corporate Sponsor of Football Award, with BetNaija listed; and Football-Friendly Governor, recognising Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
The organisers also confirmed the reinstatement of the Rashidi Yekini Award for the highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Speaking at the event, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr Shina Phillips, reaffirmed that the awards have remained anchored on transparency and credibility since their inception in 2012. He said the nominees for the 12th edition emerged through a rigorous voting process conducted between October 29 and November 18, 2025, and independently audited by SIAO Partners.
“Our platform was built on integrity and transparency, and we have remained faithful to those values for over 12 years,” Phillips said, commending members of the College of Voters nationwide for their professionalism.
Phillips also announced plans to introduce an annual international sports conference alongside the awards ceremony, describing it as a strategic move to expand the Nigeria Pitch Awards beyond recognition into a platform for dialogue, collaboration and investment in sports development.
“The conference will bring together local and international sports managers to help re-engineer our sports processes and strengthen Nigeria’s leagues as a foundation for our national teams,” he added.
Also speaking, Director of Media at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Ademola Olajire, praised the awards for its consistency and integrity, noting that the NFF has continued to endorse the initiative because of its credibility.
“This award has come a long and arduous journey since 2012, and we thank God it is still standing. In all these years, there has been no grumbling because nothing is done in a shady manner,” Olajire said, while appreciating partners and members of the sports media.
Winners will be determined by a College of Voters comprising over 100 sports editors and journalists across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with results independently verified by SIAO Partners.
The organisers said the date and venue for the award ceremony and the newly announced sports conference will be announced shortly after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.