LBA 2017 Takes Centre Stage in Lagos

The 2017 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) end-of-season ceremony is expected to parade the most outstanding performers from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NNL), the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the Nigeria Women’s Premier League (NWPL) when it holds at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos next Tuesday week.

Coaches, clubs and players will vie for recognition in 12 categories at this year’s LBA.

The 13th category of the award which is the top goalscorer in the Nigeria top-flight, the NPFL, has already been decided. Lobi Stars forward Anthony Okpotu scored 19 goals last season, one more than MFM
FC’s Stephen Odey now with Swiss club FC Zurich, to emerge top scorer.
Top among the highlights of the award night will be the prestigious Player of the Season which recognises the best player in the NPFL in the past campaign.

Odey, Okpotu, Alhassan Ibrahim and Plateau United defender Daniel Itodo are the shortlists for the NPFL Player of the Season.

This year, the LBA has added two new category to cater for the women’s league and the second tier, the NNL. The awards will recognise the best players in the women’s championship and the NNL.

Amarachi Okonkwo of Nasarawa Amazons, Patience Kalu of Rivers Angels, FC Robo’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Charity Reuben of Ibom Angels are the nominees for the Best NWPL Player.

In the Best NNL Player category, Heartland goalkeeper Ebere Obi, Kwara United free-scoring forward Michael Ohanu, Mohammed Rabiu of Yobe Desert Stars and Bayelsa United’s Kelly Lubo are in the running.

Other categories on the night include Best New Player, Best Foreigner, Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, Club of the Year, Coach of the Year, Best NPFL National Team Player and Goal of the
Season

NOMINEES FOR CATEGORIES

1. BEST NEW PLAYER
*Chinedu Udechukwu (Katsina United)
*Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United)
*Peter Eneji (Plateau United)
*Oche Salefu (Remo Stars)
*Wasiu Alalade (ABS FC)

2. BEST FOREIGNER
*Giscard Tchatto (MFM FC)
*Kodjovi Dadzie (Akwa United)
* Fatau Dauda (Enyimba)
*Idrissa Bamba (FC Ifeanyiubah)

3. BEST GOALKEEPER
*Aliko Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
*Olorunleke Ojo (Sunshine Stars/Akwa United)
*Dele Ajiboye (Plateau Utd)
*Suraj Ayeleso (Nasarawa Utd)

4. BEST DEFENDER
*Emmanuel Ariwachukwu (Akwa United)
*Daniel Itodo (Plateau United)
*Elisha Golbe (Plateau United)
*Okorom Stanley (MFM FC)

5. BEST MIDFIELDER
*Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United)
*Afeez Aremu (Akwa United)
*Onuwa Chukwuka (MFM FC)
*Batholomew Ibenegbu (Enyimba)
*Samuel Matthias (Gombe United)

6. CLUB OF THE YEAR
*Plateau United
*MFM FC
*Enyimba
*Akwa United

7. COACH OF THE YEAR
*Kennedy Boboye (Plateau Utd)
*Abdu Maikaba (Akwa Utd)
*Duke Udi (Sunshine Stars)
*Fidelis Ilechukwu (MFM FC)

8. BEST NPFL NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER
*Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyiubah)
*Osas Okoro (Rangers)
*Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa Utd)
*Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)
*Afeez Aremu (Akwa United)

9. GOAL OF THE SEASON
*Sikiri Olatunbosun (MFM v Rangers)
*Shedrack Asiegbu (Abia Warriors v Plateau United)
*Victor Chidume (Lobi Stars v Remo Stars)

10. BEST NWPL PLAYER
*Amarachi Okonkwo (Nasarawa Amazons)
*Patience Kalu (Rivers Angels)
*Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo)
*Charity Reuben (Ibom Angels)

11. BEST NNL PLAYER
*Ebere Obi (Heartland)
*Michael Ohanu (Kwara United)
*Mohammed Rabiu (Yobe Desert Stars)
*Kelly Lubo (Bayelsa United)

12 HIGHEST GOAL SCORER
*Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars) 19 Goals

13. PLAYER OF THE SEASON
* Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa Utd)
*Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars)
*Daniel Itodo (Plateau United)
*Stephen Odey (MFM FC)