Osimhen, Boniface, Oshoala Nominated For 2023 Nigeria Pitch Awards

Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen and Super Falcons queen, Asisat Oshoala, have been nominated for the 2023 Nigeria Pitch Awards.

Victor Boniface was also nominated following his impressive performances in the year under review.

The organisers announced the nominees for various categories at a Press Conference in Lagos on Thursday afternoon, with categories such as King of the Pitch, Queen of the Pitch, Striker of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sam Okwaraji Award and State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme.

The other categories are Football Pitch of the Year, Football-Friendly Governor of the Year, Corporate Sponsor of the Year, Sportsmanship Award, Football Journalist of the Year-Print, Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and Football Journalist of the Year-Online.

Top among the categories are, the goalkeeper of year award, Kayode Bankole, Amas Obasogie and Ojo Olorunleke will battle it out for the gong.

In the defender of the year category, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel were nominated.

Wilfred Ndidi will slug it out with Alhassan Yusuf and Alexander Iwobi for the midfielder of the year award.

Two Super Eagles stars, Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface alongside Robert Mizu were nominated for the striker of the year category.

Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie were nominated for the queen of the pitch award.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Communications represented the leadership of the apex football body in Nigeria and he showered encomiums on the organisers of the award.

“I must commend the consistency of the organisers for putting together this award for ten years running in spite of the challenges on the way they have been transparent, dedicated and passionate.”

The President Matchmakers Consult International, organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, appreciated the Nigeria Football Federation and the media for their support since inception and once again reiterated his optimism that Nigeria will win the world cup, which will change the face of football in Nigeria.

The Nigeria Pitch Awards is the longest running sports award in Nigeria since 2013.

The likes of Ahmed Musa, John Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, Odion Ighalo, Vincent Enyeama, Kenneth Omeruo and Williams Troost-Ekong are among the past winners of the awards.

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR:

Kayode Bankole
Amas Obasogie
Ojo Olorunleke

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR:

Ola Aina
Calvin Bassey
Bright Osayi-Samuel

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR:

Wilfred Ndidi
Alhassan Yusuf
Alex Iwobi

STRIKER OF THE YEAR:

Robert Mizu
Victor Osimhen
Victor Boniface

QUEEN OF THE PITCH:

Rashedat Ajibade
Chiamaka Nnadozie
Asisat Oshoala

KING OF THE PITCH:

Victor Osimhen
Emeka Obioma
Victor Boniface

TEAM OF THE YEAR:

Super Falcons
Enyimba
Remo Stars

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Daniel Ogunmodede
Finidi George
Randy Waldrum

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD:

Victor Osimhen
Ahmed Musa
Kunle Soname

STATE WITH BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME:

Edo
Delta
Lagos

FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR:

Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena Onikan, Lagos State

Remo Stars Stadium Remo, Ogun State

Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR:

Umo Eno Akwa Ibom State
Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State
Godwin Obaseki Edo State

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD:

Bet9ja Sport Betting
GTI Financial Financial Services
MTN Nigeria Telecom

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:

Kunle Soname
Victor Osimhen
Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT:

Christian Okparah The Guardian Newspapers

Charles Diya New Telegraph Newspapers

Johnny Edward Punch Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV:

Miyen Akiri TVC

Mozez Praiz Supersport

Cecilia Omorogbe Channels TV

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO:

Olawale Adigun Mainland FM

Yinka Oyedele Brilla 88.9 FM

Anthony Bekederemo Brila 88.9 FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE:

Samuel Ahmadu Savid News

Tobi Adepoju Oganla Media

Kunle Solaja Sportsvillagesquare