Rangers' Nigerian defender Leon Balogun (C) is tackled by Lech Poznan's Swedish forward Mickael Ishak, who gets a yellow card, during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 Group D football match between Rangers FC and Lech Poznan at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on October 29, 2020. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP)
Rangers’ Nigerian defender Leon Balogun (C) is tackled by Lech Poznan’s Swedish forward Mickael Ishak, who gets a yellow card, during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 Group D football match between Rangers FC and Lech Poznan at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on October 29, 2020. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP)
The 2021 nominees for Nigeria’s Ballers Award, an annual event that “honours and appreciate the exemplary achievements of Nigerian footballers for their exploits in the preceding year”, have been revealed in Lagos.
Last year’s event, held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, included winners like Cyriel Dessers (“Revelation of the year”), William Troost-Ekong (“Defender of the year”) and Daniel Akpeyi (“Goalkeeper of the year), among others.
This year’s event will be the 3rd edition and promises to be bigger and better than the previous one. According to the organisers, it will be viewed by over 3,000,000 people on some major TV stations and social media platforms across Africa and the World.
The Awards in their second year is powered by Naija Footballers platform, a transformational digital and social media platform that tracks the performances and stories of Nigerian Footballers. Here are the nominees:
BALLERS AWARD CATEGORIES & NOMINATION
Revelation of the year
Maduka Okoye
Noni Madueke
Tolu Arokodare
Zaidu sanusi
FC Porto’s Nigerian defender Zaidu Sanusi holds the ball during the UEFA Champions League group C football match between FC Porto and Olympiakos, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 27, 2020. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / POOL / AFP)
Goalkeeper of the year.
Daniel Akpeyi
Maduka Okoye
Matthew Yakubu
Defender of the year
Leon Balogun
Zaidu Sanusi
Ola Aina
Chigozie Awaziem
Fulham’s Nigerian defender Ola Aina (C) jumps for the ball during the English FA Cup third round football match between Queens Park Rangers and Fulham at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in London on January 9, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
Midfielder of the year
Joe Aribo
Frank Onyeka
Wilfred Ndidi
Mikel Obi
Leicester City’s Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (L) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Chelsea at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on January 19, 2021. (Photo by Rui Vieira / POOL / AFP)
Forward of the Year
Paul Onuachu
Victor Osimhen
Simy Nwankwo
Junior Ajayi
Napoli’s Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen (L) celebrates with Napoli’s coach Gennaro Gattuso (R) after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A football match Napoli vs Atalanta at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, on October 17, 2020. (Photo by alberto pizzoli / AFP)
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