11th Pitch Awards: Lookman looks to dethrone Osimhen as ‘King of the Pitch’
The reigning African Footballer of the Year and Atalanta FC of Italy forward, Ademola Lookman, will now look to dethrone the incumbent holder, Victor Osimhen, for the highest honour of Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards on Thursday at the Bon Hotels, Sobo Arobiodu, Ikeja, unveiled the nominees for the 2025 edition of the awards with 18 categories.
In the highest category of the Pitch Awards, ‘The King of the Pitch’, Super Eagles striker Osimhen will face stiff competition from his compatriot, Lookman, who was recently crowned African Footballer of the Year.
Osimhen, the Galatasaray FC of Turkey hitman, holds the ‘King of the Pitch’ award. The Super Eagles forward made history at the 10th anniversary in 2024 by winning the ‘Striker of the Year’ and ‘King of the Pitch’ awards for the third consecutive year at the 2024 edition.
Osimhen’s achievement at the 10th anniversary of the Nigeria Pitch Awards made him the first player in the history of the awards to secure a three-time ‘King of the Pitch’ in a row.
For the 2025 edition, Osimhen is expected to face strong opposition from the stand-in captain of the Super Eagles, Williams Troost Ekong.
For the Goalkeeper of the Year, Maduka Okoye (Undize Italy), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa) and Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria) got the nominations; Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England) and Williams Troost Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Midfielder of the Year: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) and Frank Onyeka (FC Augsburg, Germany); Striker of the Year: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Team of the Year: Rangers International FC; Edo Queens FC and Remo Stars; Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars); Moses Adukwu (Edo Queens FC); Fidelis Ilechukwu (Rangers International FC); Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC U.S); King of the Pitch: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray SC, Turkey); Wlliams Troost Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia).
(NAN)
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