Lobi Stars striker, Anthony Okpotu has emerged the League Bloggers Awards/Nigeria Professional Football League Player of the Season.
Okpotu, with 19 goals, was also adjudged the Highest Goalscorer of the season to cap an eventful night of awards on Tuesday.
The League Bloggers Awards end-of-season ceremony also produced winners in 13 categories that covered the Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League and Nigeria Women’s Premier League.
Ten players, one club and one coach were named winners in the different categories during the award night in Lagos, though one of the categories – the NPFL Highest Goalscorer award – had long been decided.
Plateau United winger Peter Eneji was named Best New Player in the NPFL ahead of four other shortlists – Chinedu Udechukwu of Katsina United, Destiny Ashadi of Katsina United, Oche Salefu of Remo Stars and Wasiu Alalade of ABS FC.
MFM FC’s Benin Republic star Giscard Tchatto claimed the Best Foreign Player, also in the top division.
Tchatto got the award ahead of Kodjovi Dadzie of Akwa United, Fatau Dauda of Enyimba and FC Ifeanyiubah goalkeeper Idrissa Bamba.
Nasarawa United goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso beat the trio of Akwa United’s Olorunleke Ojo, Mustapha Aliko of Niger Tornadoes and Dele Ajiboye of Plateau United to emerge Best NPFL Goalkeeper.
Daniel Itodo and Ikechukwu Ibenegbu were named Best NPFL Defender and Best NPFL Midfielder respectively.
In the two new categories, FC Robo’s Rasheedat Ajibade won the NWPL Player of the Season, while Kwara United’s striker Michael Ohanu emerged the NNL Player of the Season.
Sikiru Olatunbosun of MFM FC won the Goal of the Season in the NPFL for his eye-catching strike against former league champions Enugu Rangers, and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who played for FC Ifeanyiubah last season, got the Best NPFL-based National Team Player award.
Plateau United won the Club of the Year and their trainer Kennedy Boboye got the award of Coach of the Year.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
1. BEST NEW PLAYER
Peter Eneji (Plateau United)
2. BEST FOREIGN PLAYER
Giscard Tchatto (MFM FC)
3. BEST GOALKEEPER
Suraj Ayeleso (Nasarawa United)
4. BEST DEFENDER
Daniel Itodo (Plateau United)
5. BEST MIDFIELDER
Batholomew Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (Enyimba)
6. CLUB OF THE YEAR
Plateau United
7. COACH OF THE YEAR
Kennedy Boboye (Plateau Utd)
8. BEST NPFL NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyiubah)
9. GOAL OF THE SEASON
Sikiri Olatunbosun (MFM v Rangers)
10. BEST NWPL PLAYER
Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo)
11. BEST NNL PLAYER
Michael Ohanu (Kwara United)
12 HIGHEST GOAL SCORER
Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) 19 Goals
13. PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars).