Super Eagles and Italian Serie A goal-king, Victor Osimhen and in-form FC Barcelona Femeni forward Asisat Oshoala top the list of nominees for the ninth edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards scheduled to hold in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Friday, 24th March 2023.
Osimhen, record scorer of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals (with 10 goals, achieved at the finals in Chile in 2015) has continued to bang in the goals in the Italian Serie A where he is current leading scorer, and scored four of Nigeria’s 10 goals in the record international win over Sao Tome and Principe last year summer.
There are, in total, eighteen categories of awards, viz King of the Pitch; Queen of the Pitch; Striker of the Year; Goalkeeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Midfielder of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Sam Okwaraji Award and State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme.
Others are Football Pitch of the Year; Football-Friendly Governor of the Year; Corporate Sponsor of the Year; Sportsmanship Award; Football Journalist of the Year-Print; Football Journalist of the Year-TV; Football Journalist of the Year-Radio and; Football Journalist of the Year-Online.
Presenting the list of nominees to the NFF leadership on Thursday, President of Matchmakers Consult International (organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards), Shina Philips expressed appreciation to the NFF for its encouragement of the Awards over the years.
“We are happy with the encouragement and regard that we have continued to receive from the NFF since we started the Awards in 2013.
‘The Federation has always been there and always present at the event. We are bold to say that the Awards will forever retain its integrity, transparency and credibility.”