Nominees for the annual Nigeria Pitch Awards were unveiled at a Thursday ceremony in Lagos, southwest Nigeria. Expectedly, the nomination list is packed full of notable Nigerian footballers who have made significant impacts in their careers both for themselves and the nation in the year 2024.

Clubs, coaches, administrators, state governments and governors are not left out as the Nigeria Pitch Awards recognise, celebrate and honour those who have contributed in no small ways to the country’s football development.

President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, told newsmen in Lagos at the BON Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, that the awards processes right from voting make it unique and standout, adding that “from inception, our intention was to create an award platform that has a unique character of its own; a character moulded by our core values of transparency, credibility and integrity. To achieve this, we have followed a carefully laid out award process which brings together a College of Voters comprising some of Nigeria’s most knowledgeable, experienced and professional sports journalists and an independent collation body. As organizers, we are very proud of and deeply appreciative of our College of Voters whose decisions year after year have shown them to be true and selfless patriots.

“The award process has been designed in such a way that it will not only be transparent but also sustainable. This is why the award process transcends organizers’ personal influence while putting the responsibility of deciding winners in the hands of professional journalists with many years of experience, knowledge and expertise in reporting and analysing football. We are sure that our College of Voters will always make the best possible decisions in the interest of our football. In the same vein, our independent vote collation body is a vastly experienced and professional player in Nigeria’s accounting and auditing sector. SIAO Partners which has over two decades of experience in accounting, prides itself as Nigeria’s largest indigenous professional services firm,” he said.

Representative of SIAO Partners, Oluwadare Ojelade further reiterated the integrity of the voting process, which he said gone through a painstaking independent and transparent process determined solely by the voters who are mainly sports editors, correspondents and reporters.

According to Ojelade, voting for the 11th Nigeria Pitch Awards began on 25 November 2024 and ended on 18 January 2025, while collation of the votes by the auditing firm, SIAO Partners, was done between 6-31 January when the nominees emerged.

FULL LIST OF THE NOMINEES

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

Rasheedat Ajibade                  Atlético de Madrid Femenino

Asisat Oshoala                        Bay FC

Chiamaka Nnadozie                Paris FC

KING OF THE PITCH

Victor Osimhen                        Galatasaray S.K

Ademola Lookman                     Atalanta BC

William Troost-Ekong                 Al-kholood FC

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Maduka Okoye                                Udinese Calcio

Stanley Nwabali                              Chippa United

Kayode Bankole                              Remo Stars

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

Ola Aina                                  Nottingham Forest FC

William Troost-Ekong              Al-kholood FC

Calvin Bassey                         Fulham FC

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

Alex Iwobi                               Fulham FC

Frank Onyeka                         FC Augsburg

Wilfred Ndidi                           Leicester City FC

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

Victor Osimhen                              Galatasaray S.K

Victor Boniface                              Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Ademola Lookman                          Atalanta BC

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Remo Stars FC

Rangers International FC

Edo Queens

COACH OF THE YEAR

Moses Adukwu                        Edo Queens FC

Fidelis Ilechukwu                   Rangers International FC

Daniel Ogunmodede                Remo Stars FC

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD

Segun Odegbami                             Nigerian Ex-International

Ahmed Musa                                   Kano Pillars FC

Kunle Soname                                Bet9ja

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Edo

Lagos

Delta

FOOTBALL PITCH OF THE YEAR

Remo Stars Stadium                              Remo, Ogun State

Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena              Onikan, Lagos State

Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium             Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu        Lagos State

His Excellency, Umo Eno                       Akwa Ibom State
His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki             Former Governor, Edo State

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

GTI Financial                                  Financial Services

MTN Nigeria                                    Telecom

Bet9ja                                             Sport Betting

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

George Aluo                            Chairman NNL

Hon. Kunle Soname                 Chairman, Remo Stars

Ahmed Musa                            Kano Pillars FC

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – PRINT

Charles Diya                           New Telegraph

Abiodun Adewale                    Punch Newspapers

Johnny Edward                              The Nation Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – TV

Mozez Praiz                            Supersport

Blessing Nwosu                       Silverbird TV

Cecilia Omorogbe                   Channels TV

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – RADIO

Micheal Obasi                         Hot FM Abuja

Chuma Nnoli                                   Nigeria Info FM

Olawale Adigun                               MainlandFM

Anthony Bekederemo                    Brila 88.9 FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – ONLINE

Niyi Busari                              BSN Sports Concept

Samuel Ahmadu                      Savid News

Kunle Solaja                            Sports Village Square

*Promises Victory For Team Lagos At 2025 NSF Zonal Elimination 

The newly redeployed Secretary of the Lagos State Football Association (FA), Mr. Yusuf Akolade Lawal, has vowed to lead Team Lagos to victory in the 2025 National Sports Festival Zonal Elimination, building on his past successes in boxing. His new designation is part of the strategic redeployment exercise initiated by the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) aimed at strengthening leadership and expertise across different sporting disciplines in the state.

Yusuf brings a proven track record of success to his new role. His redeployment comes after a successful tenure as the Secretary of the Lagos State Boxing Association, where he played a pivotal role in Team Lagos’ historic four-gold-medal haul at the 2024 National Youth Games. His leadership and strategic acumen were instrumental in nurturing and developing young boxing talents, culminating in the donation of a multimillion-naira boxing gym by Yucateco Boxing Promotions to the Lagos State Sports Commission. This facility will serve as a hub for training and developing future boxing champions.

Speaking on his new role, Yusuf expressed confidence in Team Lagos’ ability to excel at the Zonal Eliminations, particularly in football, where the team aims to secure qualification for the 22nd National Sports Festival, scheduled for May 16–30, 2025.

“I am honoured to serve as the Secretary of the Lagos State Football Association and will bring the same winning approach that delivered an unprecedented four gold medals for Team Lagos in boxing at the National Youth Games 2024 to football. Team Lagos is not just going there to participate; we are competing to win at the National Sports Festival. Our athletes are well-prepared, and with the support we are getting from the Lagos State Sports Commission and other sports stakeholders, we will make Lagos proud and ensure the state remains a dominant force in Nigerian sports,” Yusuf stated.

Yusuf’s emergence as the new Lagos FA Secretary came on the back of the recent internal redeployment exercise at the Lagos State Sports Commission, which took place on February 10, 2025, and saw 55 Sports Officers reassigned across various sporting disciplines, many of whom had served as secretaries for 5 to 10 years in a single sport. This initiative, backed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aligns with the Lagos. State Government THEMES+ development framework and LSSC’s broader vision of expanding knowledge, promoting adaptability, and developing multi-disciplinary expertise among its workforce.

The Lagos State Sports Commission, under the leadership of Director General Mr. Lekan Fatodu, has put comprehensive measures in place to ensure Team Lagos dominates at the Zonal Eliminations. From intensive training camps to top-notch welfare and strategic logistical support, the Commission is committed to providing everything needed for success.

Speaking on Yusuf’s reassignment and Team Lagos’ preparations, Mr. Fatodu reaffirmed his confidence in Yusuf’s capabilities and the team’s readiness:

“Yusuf Lawal has proven himself as a dedicated and results-driven sports officer. His transition to football is part of the Commission’s development-oriented effort to replicate success across multiple disciplines. We have left no stone unturned in preparing Team Lagos for the 2025 National Sports Festival, from top-tier training camps to technical support, premium welfare, and the full backing of the sports-loving Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, our athletes are primed for success.”

The 2025 National Sports Festival Zonal Eliminations will take place simultaneously across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones from February 23 to 28, 2025. In the South-West zone, Lagos will compete against Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti across eight team sports, including football, basketball, hockey, cricket, handball, volleyball, abula, and beach volleyball.

Aston Villa held Liverpool to an entertaining 2-2 draw as the Reds stretched their lead to eight points clear at the top, but missed the chance to go 10 clear of Arsenal.

The visitors took the lead when a dreadful error from Andres Garcia, on his first Villa start, allowed Diogo Jota to square for Mohamed Salah to fire home, before Villa dragged themselves level when Youri Tielemans fired in after Liverpool failed to clear.

Ollie Watkins then put Villa ahead as he headed home Lucas Digne’s cross before the break, after which Jota struck the crossbar from range.

Trent Alexander-Arnold then fired Liverpool level with a deflected effort, before Reds substitute Darwin Nunez missed a glorious chance after being found by Dominik Szoboszlai. Villa sub Donyell Malen then almost won it with the final kick. Here are the game’s main talking points.