European-based stars Ademola Lookman of Atlético de Madrid, Calvin Bassey of Fulham, and of Galatasaray will go head-to-head for the prestigious King of the Pitch accolade at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The ceremony is set to take place on September 8, 2026, at the Ibis Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Announcing the nominations at a press conference in Abuja, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, confirmed that Lookman and Osimhen are also in the running for the Rashidi Yekini Award (Best Striker of the Year), alongside Wolaita Dicha FC forward Anas Yusuf.
He noted that the 12th edition features 18 categories celebrating achievements across men’s and women’s football, coaching, administration, media, and state development.
According to Philips, key nominees breakdown are as follow:
Queen of the Pitch: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion Women), Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto), and Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint-Germain).
Team of the Year: Remo Stars, Rivers United, and the Super Falcons.
- Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede, Finidi George, and Justin Madugu.
- Football Friendly Governor of the Year: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).
- State for Best Grassroots Football Development: Delta, Kwara, and Lagos.
- Football Pitch of the Year: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (Uyo), MKO Abiola Sports Arena (Abeokuta), and Remo Stars Stadium (Remo).
He explained that additional categories will honour the top Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder, Sportsmanship, Corporate Sponsor, and Football Journalists across print, television, radio, and online platforms.
On restoring faith in Nigerian football, Philips said the announcement of the event comes on the heels of recent qualification setbacks for both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons in their respective World Cup campaigns.
Despite these challenges, Philips remains optimistic about the nation’s footballing future, pointing to the standout performances of Nigerian players in top leagues globally.
“We have absolute confidence in our footballers who are doing well in various leagues across Europe, America, Africa, and other parts of the world.
“Since our maiden edition in Calabar in 2013, we have consistently shown that our players deserve commendation and encouragement for their patriotic contributions,” Philips said.
Addressing the delay of this year’s ceremony, Philips offered an apology to stakeholders, explaining that while the event had to be rescheduled, all logistics, including the award statuettes have been secured to ensure a seamless ceremony.
