Usual suspects topped the list as Match Makers Consults and its auditing partners, SIAO rolled out 54 possible winners in 18 categories of the fifth edition of the annual awards.

The unveiling was done on Wednesday by the organisers at a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos. Top on the contenders’ list for the main title is the Super Eagles’ skipper, Mikel Obi who is expected to have stiff challenge from the duo of English Premiership stars – Victor Moses of Chelsea and Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City.

The three national team players are jostling for the ‘King of the Pitch’ Award. According to Sina Philips, the CEO of Match Makers Consult, the event will hold in Lagos at a date to be announced in June.

Nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year is Carl Ikeme, the recuperating goaltender for Wolverhampton Wanderers of England. Contending with him are Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was with FC UfeanyiUbah in the season under consideration and Dele Ajiboye of league champions, Plateau United.

The full nominations run thus:

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

1. Carl Ikeme             Wolverhampton Wanderers
2. Ikechukwu Ezenwa Ifeanyi Ubah FC
3. Dele Ajiboye Plateau United FC

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

1. Leon Balogun FSV Mainz 05
2. William Troost-Ekong Bursapor FC
3. Shehu Abdullahi Anothosis Famagusta FC

MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR

1. John Mikel Obi Tianjin Teda
2. Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
3. Victor Moses Chelsea FC

STRIKER OF THE YEAR

1. Victor Moses Chelsea FC
2. Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars FC
3. Odion Ighalo Changchun Yatai

MVP (MEN) IN THE NPFL

1. Ikechukwu Ezenwa Ifeanyi Ubah FC
2. Stephen Odey MFM FC/FC Zurich
3. Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars FC

MVP (WOMEN) IN THE NWFL

1. Charity Rueben Ibom Angels
2. Rasheedat Ajibade FC Robo
3. Amarachi Okonkwo Nasarawa Amazons

COACH OF THE YEAR

1. Fidelis Elechukwu MFM FC
2. Gernot Rohr Super Eagles
3. Kennedy Boboye Plateau United

CLUB/TEAM OF THE YEAR

1. Super Eagles
2. Plateau United FC
3. MFM FC

REFEREE OF THE YEAR

1. Ferdinand Udoh
2. Adebimpe Quadri
3. Ogabor Joseph

STATE WITH THE BEST GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

1. Lagos State
2. Rivers State
3. Delta State

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR

1. His Excellency Godwin Obaseki Edo State
2. His Excellency Emmanuel Udom Akwa Ibom State
3. His Excellency Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State

SAM OKWARAJI AWARD FOR COMMITMENT TO NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

1. Shehu Dikko 2nd Vice President, NFF
2. Amaju Melvin Pinnick President, NFF
3. Chief Ifeanyi Ubah Chairman, Ifeanyi Ubah FC

CORPORATE SPONSOR OF FOOTBALL AWARD

1. Aiteo Group
2. Nigerian Breweries plc
3. Coca Cola plc

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (PRINT)

1. Johnny Edwards Complete Sports
2. Tana Aiyejina Punch Newspapers
3. Olalekan Okusan The Nation Newspapers

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (RADIO)

1. Godwin Enakhena Top Radio FM
2. Olawale Adigun Top Radio FM
3. Tony Bekederemo Brila FM

FOOTBALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR (TV)

1. Austin Okon-Akpan Channels TV
2. Godwin Enakhena LTV/SportsSplash
3. Mozez Praiz Supersport

QUEEN OF THE PITCH

1. Rasheedat Ajibade FC Robo
2. Rueben Charity Ibom Angels
3. Asisat Oshoala Dalian Quanjian

KING OF THE PITCH

1. Victor Moses Chelsea FC
2. Wilfred Ndidi Leicester City FC
3. John Mikel Obi Tiajin Teda