Pitch Awards 2025: Osimhen, Lookman, Boniface Headline Star-Studded Nominees List

Osimhen, Boniface, Lookman Nominated for Pitch Awards’ Top Prize
Both Osimhen and Lookman are also competing for the King of the Pitch award,
Several other award categories will be announced on a yet-to-be-confirmed date

Three of Nigeria’s top football talents—Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)—have been shortlisted for the prestigious Nigeria Pitch Awards’ top prize at the 11th edition of the event.

Osimhen, who secured the award last year along with the King of the Pitch title, is among the favorites once again. The Napoli striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, is also the reigning CAF African Player of the Year.

EDITOR’S PICK
2025: A Glimmer of Hope Nigeria?
Trapped in Fear Nigerians Cry Out Over Deportation Policy
Opeifa: The Railway Man

However, Lookman, who guided Atalanta to Europa League glory and succeeded Osimhen as Africa’s best player, is widely tipped as the frontrunner for this year’s Pitch Awards.

Both Osimhen and Lookman are also competing for the King of the Pitch award, alongside Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kholood FC. Troost-Ekong is also a nominee in the Defender of the Year category, where he is up against Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina and Fulham’s Calvin Bassey.

In the Midfielder of the Year category, Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Augsburg), and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) have been nominated. Meanwhile, Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole, who has been instrumental in his club’s strong NPFL campaign, is the only home-based player in contention for Goalkeeper of the Year, facing competition from Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali of Chippa United.

The Queen of the Pitch category will see a fierce contest between Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid Femenino), Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA), and Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC). Given her outstanding performances for both club and country, Nnadozie is a strong contender for the award.

For Coach of the Year, the nominees include Moses Adukwu (Edo Queens FC), Fidelis Ilechukwu (Rangers International FC), and Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars FC).

Several other award categories will be announced on a yet-to-be-confirmed date.

Speaking at a media briefing at BON Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Mr. Sina Phillips, expressed gratitude to the College of Voters for their unwavering dedication over the past decade.

“As organizers, we deeply appreciate our College of Voters, whose decisions have consistently demonstrated professionalism and patriotism,” he said.

Phillips emphasized that the awards process is structured for transparency and sustainability, ensuring that winners are determined by experienced journalists with vast knowledge in football analysis. He also commended SIAO Partners for their diligent handling of the voting process, which has upheld the integrity of the awards over the years.

Click Here For Video of The Week