The 11th edition of the Pitch Awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, with Super Eagles and Atalanta sensation, Ademola Lookman, emerging as the biggest winner of the night. Lookman took home two awards, namely the Striker of the Year and the King of the Pitch.
The ceremony, held at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, also saw Rasheedat Ajibade, Super Falcons and Atlético Madrid Femenino forward, crowned the Queen of the Pitch.
In his welcome address, Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, reiterated the organizers’ commitment to sustaining the core values and tempo of the awards.
He pledged that the organizers will continue to demonstrate faith in Nigerian footballers and administrators by hosting the annual event, despite the challenges encountered.
Philips also called on Nigerians to continue supporting the Super Eagles and other national teams. The awards ceremony was attended by various stakeholders in the Nigerian football industry, including players, coaches, and administrators.
In the Goalkeeper’s category, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali beat Udinese’s Maduka Okoye and Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole to win the prize. Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong, emerged as the Defender of the Year for the fourth time, beating fellow teammates Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and Calvin Bassey of Fulham.
In the Midfielder of the Year category, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Augsburg’s Frank Onyema lost out to Alex Iwobi of Fulham, who has now won the award for the third time. Iwobi has been in impressive form for both club and country, and his award was seen as a well-deserved recognition of his hard work.
The Sam Okwaraji Award for commitment to Nigerian football was won by Hon. Kunle Soname, who has been a long-time supporter of Nigerian football. Soname beat out Nigerian ex-international, Segun Odegbami, and former Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, to win the award.
Other winners at the awards ceremony included MTN, which retained the Corporate Sponsor of Football award, and Rangers International Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, who won the Coach of the Year award. Rangers International also carted home the Team of the Year award.
In the media category, Samuel Ahmadu of Savid News emerged as the Football Journalist of the Year – Online, while Charles Diya of New Telegraph Newspapers was named Football Journalist of the Year – Print. Cecilia Omorogbe of Channels TV won the Football Journalist of the Year – TV, and Tony Bekederemo of Brila Sports Radio was voted winner of the Football Journalist of the Year – Radio.
The full list of winners at the 2024 Pitch Awards is as follows:
- King of the Pitch: Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
- Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade – Atlético Madrid Femenino
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Stanley Nwabali – Chippa United
- Defender of the Year: William Troost-Ekong – Al-Kholood
- Midfielder of the Year: Alex Iwobi – Fulham FC
- Striker of the Year: Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
- Team of the Year: Rangers International
- Coach of the Year: Fidelis Ilechukwu – Rangers International
- Sam Okwaraji Award: Hon. Kunle Soname – Bet9ja
- State with the Best Grassroots Football
- Development Programme: Lagos State
- Football Pitch of the Year: Godswill Akpabio Int’l Stadium
- Football Friendly Governor of the Year: His Excellency, Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom State
- Corporate Sponsor of Football Award: MTN Nigeria
- Sportsmanship Award: Hon. Kunle Soname – Chairman, Remo Stars
- Football Journalist of the Year – Print: Charles Diya – New Telegraph Newspapers
- Football Journalist of the Year – TV: Cecilia Omorogbe – Channels TV
- Football Journalist of the Year – Radio: Anthony Bekederemo – Brila 88.9 FM
- Football Journalist of the Year – Online: Samuel Ahmadu – Savid News