L—R: Dr Ademola Olajire, interim deputy general secretary, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, commissioner of police, Lagos State Command; and Dr Shina Philips, president, Nigeria Pitch Awards.
Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Stanley Nwabali were among the major winners at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, as the organisers backed President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms in Nigerian football.
The awards, held in Lagos, recognised outstanding contributions to Nigerian football in 2025.
Osimhen emerged as the biggest individual winner, reclaiming the King of the Pitch award after polling 323 votes to beat last year’s winner, Ademola Lookman, who received 38 votes. Fulham defender Calvin Bassey finished third with 33 votes.
The Galatasaray striker also won the Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker of the Year, beating Lookman and Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.
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Iwobi, also of Fulham, was named Midfielder of the Year, while Paris Saint-Germain Féminine and Super Falcons forward Rasheedat Ajibade won the Queen of the Pitch award.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu was named Coach of the Year, while Remo Stars won Team of the Year.
Philips backs Tinubu’s football reforms
Speaking at the ceremony, Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, urged stakeholders and the media to support Tinubu’s reform agenda for Nigerian football.
Philips praised the president for taking what he described as bold steps to reform the country’s football administration following a series of failures involving the national teams.
“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,” Philips said.
He said the awards came at a critical period for Nigerian football, with reforms underway across football administration and regulatory institutions.
Philips called on stakeholders to support the process, saying the reforms should strengthen football governance, improve professionalism and transparency, protect stakeholders’ interests and create an environment where talent can flourish.
He also urged the media, which he described as the “powerful Fourth Estate of the Realm”, to support the presidential initiative.
Remo Stars, NFF stakeholders honoured
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 was named the State with the Best Grassroots Football Development Programme, while the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, won Football Pitch of the Year.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno was named Football Friendly Governor of the Year, while MTN Nigeria received the Corporate Sponsor of Football Award.
Pitch Awards introduce emerging star category
Philips also announced a new Emerging Star Award, which will debut at the next edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The category will recognise promising footballers aged 18 and below and is designed to identify Nigeria’s most enterprising young talents.
According to Philips, the new award will help sustain the growth of Nigerian football, strengthen grassroots development and encourage greater competition among emerging players.
