Osimhen, Iheanacho headline 4th annual Ballers Awards nominees list

May 21, 2022

Now in its fourth year, the awards seek to fill the void created by the lack of recognition of the hard work Nigerian footballers put into their craft. It has, in its three previous editions, built up a cachet in the Nigerian footballing industry, with the likes of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Leicester City midfield lynchpin Wilfred Ndidi, and Genk goal machine Paul Onuachu recognised for their exploits both in Europe and in the colours of the Super Eagles.

The 2021 edition will feature 16 categories in total, compared to the 12 awards handed out in 2020. The awards for ‘Goal of the Year’ and ‘Best Local Based Player’ will make returns after their conspicuous absence in the previous edition, and for the first time there will be a ‘Fans Favourite Baller’ nod.

Osimhen and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho lead the way with four nominations apiece across various categories, Anthony Nwakaeme’s eye-catching performances in Turkey for recently-crowned Trabzonspor have earned him a nomination for the ‘Forward of the Year’ gong, while the ‘Baller of the Year – Female’ award will see Benfica’s Christy Ucheibe duke it out with four others, including four-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala.

There is also recognition given to media practitioners in the sporting sphere for their contributions to the growth of the game in Nigeria. For the first time, this award will be split into different categories – with print media distinct from broadcast and photography.

The nominees will be put through a rigorous examination by a crack jury, with the date for the award ceremony to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The Ballers Awards Nominees – Full List

Anayo Iwuala (Esperance, Tunisia), Calvin Bassey (Rangers, Scotland), Monday Gift (FC Robo, Nigeria), Raphael Onyedika (Midtjylland, Denmark), Abraham Marcus (Radomiak Radom, Poland)

Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona, Spain), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Ola Aina (Torino, Italy), Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Joe Aribo (Rangers, Scotland), Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey)

Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia), Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United, Nigeria)

Leon Balogun (Rangers, Scotland), William Troost Ekong (Watford, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Innocent Bonke (Lorient, France)

Victor Osimhen, Anthony Nwakaeme (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Paul Onuachu (Genk, Belgium), Kelechi Iheanacho, Umar Sadiq (Almeria, Spain)

Baller of the Year – Male

Paul Onuachu, Joe Aribo, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho

Baller of the Year – Female

Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris, France), Uchenna Kanu (Tigres, Mexico), Christy Ucheibe (Benfica, Portugal)