Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, chairman of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname, and Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno were the big winners on Tuesday at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Osimhen bagged two awards-The King of the Pitch and the Rashidi Yekini award for best striker of the year. Soname also picked two-the Sam Okwaraji Award and the Sportsmanship Award. Soname’s team, Remo Stars were also winners of the Team of the year category at the awards. Similarly, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state won the best football friendly Governor of the year award. But the governor was on song again as the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo was voted Football Pitch of the year.
The awards which were for performances in the 2025 football season, also saw Fulham’s Alex Iwobi win the Midfielder of the Year category.
Another Fulham player Calvin Bassey, won Defender of the Year just as Super Eagles Number 1 goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali emerged the Goalkeeper of the Year.
The well-attended ceremony that held at the Ibis Hotel on Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos, also saw Super Falcons Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade emerge as Queen of the Pitch ahead of her teammates Jennifer Okoronkwo and Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Justine Madugu won Coach of the Year for his work that fetched the Super Falcons their 10th WAFCON title in Morocco last year.
The Nigeria Police Force and the Niger Delta Development Commission received the Special Achievement in Sports Award while Lagos State won the award for State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme just as 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, and Samuel Ahmadu of Savid News/Nigeriafootball.ng won Online.
