Galatasaray FC of Türkiye forward, Victor Osimhen, on Tuesday reclaimed his crown as Nigeria’s ‘King of the Pitch’ after surrendering the title to his Super Eagles teammate, Ademola Lookman, in the 2025 edition.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Osimhen emerged winner of the ‘King of the Pitch’ award, while Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, was crowned ‘Queen of the Pitch’. The winners were announced at the 12th Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony held at Ibis Hotel in Lagos.
The Nigeria Pitch Awards have, over the years, recognised talented Nigerian footballers in both male and female categories, as well as administrators, journalists and other stakeholders for their contributions to the development of football in the country.
The award ceremony is organized by Matchmakers Consult International Ltd. in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Osimhen, the second-highest goal scorer for the Super Eagles, reclaimed the ‘King of the Pitch’ award after losing the crown to Lookman in the 2025 edition.
With the 2026 title, Osimhen became the most decorated footballer on the Nigeria Pitch Awards platform, winning the crown for the fourth time.
He had previously won the award in three consecutive editions in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Osimhen defeated Lookman, the 2025 holder, while defender Calvin Bassey finished third.
In the ‘Queen of the Pitch’ category, Ajibade defeated fellow Super Falcons teammates Esther Okoronkwo and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who finished second and third respectively.
Other award categories included Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year and the Sam Okwaraji Award.
The awards also featured honours for Football Pitch of the Year, Football-Friendly Governor, Corporate Sponsor of Football and several media categories.
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In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Chippa United shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali defeated Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole to claim the award.
Bassey won Defender of the Year after beating fellow Super Eagles players Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Frederick Benjamin of FCV Dender.
In the Midfielder of the Year category, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi defeated Super Eagles captain and Beşiktaş midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Coventry City’s Frank Onyeka.
The Rashidi Yekini Award for Best Striker went to Osimhen, who defeated Nasarawa United forward Anas Yusuf and Lookman of Atlético Madrid.
The Sam Okwaraji Award for Commitment to Nigerian Football was won by Remo Stars proprietor, Kunle Soname, ahead of former Super Eagles playmaker Segun Odegbami and Osimhen.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu emerged as Coach of the Year, beating former Remo Stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede and Rivers United coach Finidi George. Remo Stars won Team of the Year ahead of the Super Falcons and Rivers United.
Lagos won the State with the Best Grassroots Development Programme award, with Delta and Kwara finishing second and third respectively.
The Godswill Akpabio Stadium was named Football Pitch of the Year, ahead of the MKO Abiola Stadium and Remo Stars Stadium.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno emerged as Football-Friendly Governor of the Year, ahead of Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Telecommunications giant MTN retained the Corporate Sponsor of Football award ahead of Bet9ja, while GTI Financial came third.
Soname also won the Sportsmanship Award ahead of National Sports Commission, NSC, Director-General Bukola Olopade and George Aluo. In the media category, Savid News won the Football Journalist of the Year (Online) award.
Charles Diya of New Telegraph Newspapers won Football Journalist of the Year (Print), while Cecilia Omorogbe of Channels Television received the TV category award. Tony Bekederemo of Brila Sports Radio was voted Football Journalist of the Year (Radio).
President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, Shina Phillips, congratulated the awardees and urged them to see the recognition as motivation to achieve greater feats. He also encouraged nominees who did not win to remain proud of their achievements.
“This award does not have any loser. All those nominated are winners, but there must be someone to carry the ultimate prize. “We will continue to strive to make the awards better as the years go by,” he said. NAN reports that the ceremony was attended by leading figures in the Nigerian football fraternity.
