Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, aims to dethrone Victor Osimhen as King of the Pitch at the 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he stage is set for a fierce contest at the 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards, as reigning African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, competes with defending champion Victor Osimhen and Williams Troost-Ekong for the prestigious King of the Pitch title.
Also read: Ademola Lookman crowned 2024 African player of the year
At the unveiling ceremony held at Bon Hotels, Lagos, organisers announced nominees across 18 categories, including Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and Striker of the Year.
Osimhen, currently playing for Galatasaray FC in Turkey, made history at the 10th edition of the awards in 2024 by winning both Striker of the Year and King of the Pitch for a record third consecutive time.
However, Lookman’s stellar performances for Atalanta FC and the Super Eagles have set up a thrilling battle for the 2025 crown.
Troost-Ekong, Nigeria’s stand-in captain and a key leader at Al-Kholood FC, is also in contention, adding another layer of excitement to the competition.
**Full List of Key Award Nominees**
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria)
- Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Williams Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
- Midfielder of the Year: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England), Frank Onyeka (FC Augsburg, Germany)
- Striker of the Year: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
- 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 Madrid Femenino, Spain), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France), Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, U.S.)
Shina Phillips, founder of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, reassured stakeholders of the credibility and transparency of the voting process.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Communication, Ademola Olajide, also emphasized the significance of the awards in recognizing Nigeria’s football excellence.
Also read: Ademola Lookman shines as Atalanta hosts Arsenal in champions league
With Osimhen seeking to extend his reign, Lookman aiming to claim his first domestic football crown, and Troost-Ekong adding a defensive twist to the contest, the 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards promises to be a thrilling affair.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
