Osimhen wins two top Nigeria Pitch Awards in Nigeria
At the 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, Victor Osimhen won two top honors: the Rashidi Yekini Award for Striker of the Year and the King of the Pitch title. The awards were presented based on the results of 2025, although the ceremony itself was postponed from its previously scheduled date.
Award winners
According to Premium Times Nigeria, Alex Iwobi was named Midfielder of the Year, Calvin Bassey Defender of the Year, and Stanley Nwabali received the Best Goalkeeper award.
Rasheedat Ajibade won the Queen of the Pitch title. Justin Madugu was named Coach of the Year for his work with Nigeria's women's national team, the Super Falcons, while Remo Stars were recognized as Team of the Year.
Remo Stars chairman Kunle Soname received the Sam Okwaraji Award and the award for sportsmanship. The Nigeria Police Force and the Niger Delta Development Commission received a special award for achievements in sports.
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Reforms and the next ceremony
During the ceremony, Nigeria Pitch Awards President Shina Philips supported football reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu. He called on representatives of the football sector and the media to support changes aimed at increasing transparency, professionalism and accountability in football governance.
Philips also said that starting with the next awards ceremony, the prize will introduce an Emerging Star Award category for the most promising Nigerian footballer under the age of 18. Voting for the 2026 awards is expected to begin in December, and the 13th ceremony in 2027 will be preceded by a symposium.
Lagos State received the award for the best grassroots football development program, while the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo was named Football Pitch of the Year. Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno was recognized as Football-Friendly Governor of the Year, and MTN Nigeria was honored as a corporate football sponsor.
The winners were determined by an electoral college comprising sports editors from across the country. According to Philips, after the ceremony the organizers were to publish the voting results so that nominees and voters could review the distribution of votes.
