By Edwin Nwachukwu
Galatasaray superstar Victor Osimhen emerged as the star of the 2025 Nigerian Pitch Awards held on Tuesday in Lagos.
Osimhen claimed the biggest honour of the ceremony, the King of the Pitch Award, while also winning the Best Striker of the Year award.
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Stanley Nwabali emerged among the top winners.
Iwobi won Midfielder of the Year, while Bassey took Defender of the Year. Nwabali was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Rasheedat Ajibade won Queen of the Pitch, while Justine Madugu received Coach of the Year for his work with the Super Falcons. Remo Stars were named Team of the Year.
Remo Stars chairman Kunle Soname received the Sam Okwaraji Award and also won the Sportsmanship Award.
The Nigeria Police Force and Niger Delta Development Commission received the Special Achievement in Sports Award.
Lagos State won State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, while the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo was named Football Pitch of the Year.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno won Football Friendly Governor of the Year, while MTN Nigeria received the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award.
In the journalism categories, Charles Diya of New Telegraph won the Print award, Cecilia Omorogbe of Channels Television won TV, Anthony Bekederemo of Brila 88.9 FM won Radio, while Samuel Ahmadu of Savid News/Nigeriafootball.ng won Online.
Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday at the 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria Pitch Awards President Shina Philips thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s football reforms.
He urged stakeholders and the media to support efforts to promote transparency, professionalism and accountability in the sport.
Philips said the awards came at a crucial time as reforms continue within Nigeria’s football administration and regulatory institutions.
He commended Tinubu for what he described as a bold step and urged stakeholders to support the process.
“The ongoing reforms within the relevant regulatory institutions present both opportunities and responsibilities. Reform, by its very nature, demands courage, transparency, accountability, and a willingness to embrace better ways of doing things,” he said.
Philips also urged the media, which he described as the “powerful Fourth Estate of the Realm”, to support the presidential initiative.
He said the reforms should strengthen football administration, improve professionalism and transparency, protect stakeholders’ interests and create an environment where talents can thrive.
Philips announced that the Nigeria Pitch Awards will introduce an Emerging Star Award from its next edition.
The new category will recognise Nigeria’s most promising football starlet under 18 and promote competition and grassroots talent development.
He added that voting for the 2026 edition would begin in December, while the 13th awards ceremony in 2027 would be preceded by a symposium.
Philips also clarified that Tuesday’s ceremony honoured winners from the delayed 2025 edition.
Philips reaffirmed the credibility of the awards’ voting process, saying a College of Voters made up of sports editors from across Nigeria selects the winners.
He said the organisers would publish the voting pattern after the ceremony to allow nominees and voters to see how the votes were recorded.
The Pitch Awards president also said rising costs of logistics, production, publicity and other requirements had created financial challenges for the annual event.
Despite the difficulties, he said the organisers remained committed to recognising individuals and organisations contributing to Nigerian football.
Philips thanked the National Sports Commission, Nigeria Football Federation, SIAO Partners and the Nigerian media for supporting the awards.
