Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year and Atalanta forward, is now setting his sights on unseating Victor Osimhen as the “King of the Pitch” at the Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The announcement came during the unveiling of the 2025 nominees at Bon Hotels, Sobo Arobiodu, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday. The awards, which recognize excellence in Nigerian football, include 18 categories.
In the prestigious “King of the Pitch” category, Osimhen, currently holding the title, will face fierce competition from Lookman, who was recently honored as Africa’s top footballer. The award’s organizers confirmed that Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray in Turkey, is the reigning holder of the honor.
Osimhen made history at the 2024 Nigeria Pitch Awards by winning both the “Striker of the Year” and “King of the Pitch” titles for an unprecedented third consecutive year. This achievement marked the 10th anniversary of the awards, making Osimhen the first player to secure the “King of the Pitch” accolade three years in a row.
For the 2025 edition, Osimhen will face tough competition, notably from Williams Troost-Ekong, the Super Eagles’ stand-in captain. Shina Phillips, the awards organizer, reassured that the integrity and transparency of the event would be maintained.
The list of nominees across all categories was presented by Ademola Olajide, Director of Communication at the Nigeria Football Federation. Categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, and Football-Friendly Governor, among others.
Notable nominees include:
– Goalkeeper of the Year: Maduka Okoye (Undize 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)
Other categories include Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and various awards recognizing football development, media, and sponsorship.
The “King of the Pitch” competition remains one of the most eagerly awaited categories, with Lookman now a serious contender for the title currently held by Osimhen.
