Nigeria Pitch Awards to reinstate Rashidi Yekini award for top striker
Organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards have announced the reinstatement of the Rashidi Yekini Award, a special category created to honour Nigeria’s all-time leading goal scorer and recognise the country’s best striker.
The Top Striker Award, named after the late Super Eagles legend, will return at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, scheduled for December. The award will be presented to the highest goal scorer in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL).
Read Also: Nigeria Pitch Awards congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON title
The announcement was made in Lagos during a special luncheon held to appreciate partners and members of the College of Voters ahead of this year’s ceremony.
Speaking at the media session, Dr. Shina Philips, President of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, also unveiled plans for a new annual sports conference that will precede the awards. He explained that the conference aims to broaden the Pitch Awards’ vision beyond football recognition to become a platform for sports development, collaboration, and policy dialogue.
“We are pleased to announce our annual sports conference, which has been in the works for some time,” Philips said.
“The conference will attract both local and international speakers, providing a platform to renew national attention on sports and create fresh opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders.”
Philips praised the consistency and integrity of the awards since their inception in 2012, commending the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the media, and the College of Voters for their unwavering support.
The 2025 Nigeria Pitch Awards is slated for December 22, though organisers hinted the date could shift slightly to accommodate the Super Eagles’ first 2025 AFCON fixture on December 23.
