A host of Nigerian stars are set to  earn recognition after a sterling football calendar year following the release of the nominees lists for the Ballers Awards, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.


Deportivo de La Coruña's Francis Uzoho, Kaizer Chiefs Daniel Akpeyi and Wikki Tourists Adamu Abubakar are in the running for the Goalkeeper of the year award.

In another category, Udinese's William Troost Ekong, Leganes's Kenneth Omeruo, FC Porto's Chidozie Awaziem, West Brom's Semi Ajayi and Torino's Ola Aina were picked for the Defender of the Year while Rangers's Joe Aribo, Leicester City's Ndidi Wilfred, Everton's Alex Iwobi, Stoke City's Oghenekaro Etebo and Pyramids FC Azubuike Okechukwu were nominated for the Midfielder of the Year.

Lille's Victor Osimhen, Shanghai Shenhua's Odion Ighalo, Villarreal's Samuel Chukuweze, Genk's Paul Onuachu and Al-Nassr's Ahmed Musa are the ones selected to compete for the Forward of the Year.

Osimhen, Chukwueze, Ighalo, Ndidi and Troost-Ekong are also up amongst themselves for the Footballer of the Year in the Male category while Henan Huishang's Onome Ebi, Barcelona's Asisat Oshoala, Shanghai

In the hat for the Humanitarian Baller of the year are Ighalo, Oshoala and Musa, while Ibrahim Sunusi, Mfon Udoh, Ifeanyi Anemena, Samuel Mathias and Sikiru Alimi have been shortlisted for the best local based player.

The battle for the Most Promising Baller of the year will see Collins Edwin SC's Tijani Samson, Sidos Academy's Amoo Akinkunmi, Nasarawa United's Sunusi Ibrahim, Dabo Babes Academy's Sa'id Ibrahim and IFK Göteborg's Alhassan Yusuf try themselves for size.

For the Coach Of The Year award, Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, ex-Super Falcons gaffer Thomas Dennerby, Enyimba International F.C coach Usman Abdallah and U-17s handler Manu Garba were the selected ones.

Akpeyi, Aina, Omeruo, Troost-Ekong, Awaziem, Ndidi, Iwobi, Etebo, Chuwkueze, Ighalo and Osimhen were selected in the Nigeria's Best Eleven of the year.

Industry Icon Award went to Brila FM's CEO Larry Izamoje.

There are also honourary awards for Brands of the Year for the likes of Aiteo, Glo, Emzor, Coca Cola, 1X BET, Simba Group (TVS), Friesland Campina, Cadbrury, NB Plc, Zenith Bank and WAPIC Insurance.

And finally for the Super Eagles Goal Of The Year, Samuel Kalu's solo effort vs Benin, Onuachu's record-breaking goal vs Egypt, Ighalo's cool finish vs Burundi, Joe Aribo's stunner vs Brazil and Moses Simon's scorcher vs Seychelles are the goals for selection.

Emmanuel Chinaza