League Bloggers Award
SportAssociation football
CompetitionAll levels of Nigerian football
CountryNigeria
PresenterLeague Bloggers Awards
First2012
FirstwinnerReuben Gabriel
MostwinsMfon Udoh
(2 awards)
MostrecentChijioke Mbaoma

The League Bloggers Awards (also called LBA), is an independent initiative conceived to celebrate players, coaches and administrators in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria Women Football League and Nigeria National League. Formerly called Naija Premier League Online Award, it started in 2009 and was rebranded to become League Bloggers Awards in 2012. Awards (Player Of The Month & Coach Of The Month) were initially on a monthly basis from 2009 before the first End Of Season Award kicked off in 2012. The end-of-season awards ceremony wasn't held in 2015, 2018, 2020 & 2021 for various reasons.

History

Founded in 2009 by Ojeikere Aikhoje and George Akpayen as the Naija Premier League Online Awards when both men met during the Super 4 Pre-Season Tournament, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The awards were initially on a monthly basis before becoming a seasonal event in 2012 when it was rebranded as the League Bloggers Awards (LBA). Reuben Gabriel was the first[1] winner of the Player Of The Season Award. The awards ceremony have held in Lagos every year since 2012, except in 2018 when the League was suspended and in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Main categories

SeasonPlayer of the SeasonRookie of the SeasonCoach of the SeasonClub of the SeasonTop ScorerWomen Player of the SeasonNNL Player of the Season
2012Reuben Gabriel[2][3] (Kano Pillars)Andrew Abalogu (ABS F.C.)Dominic Iorfa (Lobi Stars)Kano PillarsSibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes)
2013[4]Rabiu Ali[5] (Kano Pillars)Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)Mohammed Babagananu (Kano Pillars)Kano PillarsVictor Namo (Nasarawa United)
2014[6]Mfon Udoh[6] (|Enyimba FC)Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors)Okey Emordi (Kano Pillars)Kano PillarsMfon Udoh (|Enyimba FC)
2015Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves)
2016Chisom Egbuchulam (Rangers International)Imama Amapakabo (Rangers International)Rangers InternationalGodwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists)
2017[7]Anthony Okpotu[8] (Lobi Stars)Peter Eneji (Plateau United)Kennedy Boboye (Akwa United)Plateau UnitedAnthony Okpotu[9](Lobi Stars)Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo)Michael Ohanu (Kwara United)
2018Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars)
2019Mfon Udoh (|Enyimba FC)Usman Abd'Allah (Enyimba)Enyimba Football ClubMfon Udoh (Enyimba Football Club) Sunusi Ibrahim (Nasarawa United)
2019-20Israel Abia (Rangers International)
2020-21Silas Nwankwo (|Nasarawa United)Kennedy Boboye (Akwa United)Akwa UnitedCharles Atshimene (Akwa United) Silas Nwankwo (Nasarawa United)
2021-22Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United)Stanley Eguma (Rivers United)Rivers UnitedChijioke Akuneto (Rivers United)
2022-23[10][11]Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba Football Club)Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United)Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars)Remo Stars[12]Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba Football Club)
2023-24[13]Chijioke Mbaoma[14] (Enyimba FC)Suleman Sani[15] (Akwa United)Fidelis Ilechukwu[16] (Rangers International)Rangers InternationalChijioke Mbaoma (|Enyimba FC)Emem Essien (Edo Queens)Kparobo Arierhi[17] (Beyond Limits F.A.)
2024-25

Sponsorship

In 2014, Betting brand, 1960BET[18] sponsored the awards and presented a brand new car to the Player of the Season, Mfon Udoh[19] Football engagement platform, 54footballx, initially signed a two-year deal with the LBA in 2024 as Sponsor.

References

  1. ^ "GABRIEL Wins LBA Player of the Year | All Nigeria Soccer". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
  2. ^ "GABRIEL Wins LBA Player of the Year | All Nigeria Soccer". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  3. ^ Nation, The (2012-09-19). "Reuben thrilled over LBA nomination". The Nation. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  4. ^ Nation, The (2013-11-08). "League Awards hold November 20". The Nation. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  5. ^ Television, Channels (2012-04-10). "Nigeria Premier League names Rabiu Ali player of the month". Channels Television. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  6. ^ "Mfon Udoh wins best Nigerian League Player award". Premium Times. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  7. ^ Dairo, Fisayo (2017-10-27). "NPFL: League Bloggers Awards gets November date". ACLSports. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  8. ^ Dairo, Fisayo (2017-11-29). "Okpotu, Plateau United reign supreme at LBA Awards night". ACLSports. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  9. ^ "Garlands for outstanding NPFL players in 2017 - Daily Trust". Daily Trust. 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  10. ^ Adewale, Abiodun (2023-08-22). "NPFL officials absent as Obioma, Ogunmodede win LBA awards". The Punch. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  11. ^ Victor, Ernest (2023-08-07). "2023 League Bloggers Awards' Nominees For NPFL End Of Season Awards". Naija News. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  12. ^ Sports, Pulse (2023-08-23). "NPFL: Remo Stars sweep League Bloggers Awards, Enyimba's Obioma wins big". Pulse Sports Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  13. ^ Adewale, Abiodun (2024-07-18). "Mbaoma, Ismail, Suleiman battle for NPFL best player award". The Punch. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  14. ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-07-20). "Mbaoma wins NPFL Player of the Season award". Daily Post. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  15. ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-07-23). "Akwa United celebrate Suleiman's Rookie of the Season award". Daily Post. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  16. ^ HUsiayo (2024-04-17). "NPFL: Illechukwu Dedicate Awards To Govenor [sic] Mbah". Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  17. ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-07-20). "Kparobo dedicates NNL award to teammates, coaches". Daily Post. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  18. ^ admin (2014-12-03). "1960BET is headline sponsor of 2014 League Bloggers Awards". TheNiche. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  19. ^ "Mfon Udoh wins best Nigerian League Player award". Premium Times. Retrieved 2025-04-16.