League Bloggers Awards

{{Short description|Association football league awards in Nigeria}}

{{more citations needed|date=May 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox sports award

| name = League Bloggers Award

| sport = Association football

| competition = All levels of Nigerian football

| discipline =

| givenfor =

| english =

| localnames =

| nickname =

| sponsor =

| location =

| country = Nigeria

| presenter = League Bloggers Awards

| first = 2012

| last =

| firstwinner = {{flagicon|NGR}} Reuben Gabriel

| mostwins = {{flagicon|NGR}} Mfon Udoh
(2 awards)

| mostrecent = {{flagicon|NGR}} Chijioke Mbaoma

| url =

{{URL|https://thelbawards.wordpress.com/}}

}}

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{{Cite web |title=GABRIEL Wins LBA Player of the Year {{!}} All Nigeria Soccer |url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=8154 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}} 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

class="wikitable"

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!Season

!Player of the Season

!Rookie of the Season

!Coach of the Season

!Club of the Season

!Top Scorer

!Women Player of the Season

!NNL Player of the Season

2012

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Reuben Gabriel{{Cite web |title=GABRIEL Wins LBA Player of the Year {{!}} All Nigeria Soccer |url=https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=8154 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.allnigeriasoccer.com}}{{Cite web |last=Nation |first=The |date=2012-09-19 |title=Reuben thrilled over LBA nomination |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/reuben-thrilled-over-lba-nomination/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=The Nation Newspaper |language=en-US}} (Kano Pillars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Andrew Abalogu (ABS F.C.)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Dominic Iorfa (Lobi Stars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kano Pillars

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes)

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2013{{Cite web |last=Nation |first=The |date=2013-11-08 |title=League Awards hold November 20 |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/league-awards-hold-november-20/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=The Nation Newspaper |language=en-US}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Rabiu Ali{{Cite web |last=Television |first=Channels |date=2012-04-10 |title=Nigeria Premier League names Rabiu Ali player of the month |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2012/04/10/nigeria-premier-leage-names-rabiu-ali-player-of-the-month/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Channels Television |language=en}} (Kano Pillars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Mohammed Babagananu (Kano Pillars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kano Pillars

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Victor Namo (Nasarawa United)

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2014{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/173326-mfon-udoh-wins-best-nigerian-league-player-award.html|title=Mfon Udoh wins best Nigerian League Player award |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Mfon Udoh (|Enyimba FC)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Okey Emordi (Kano Pillars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kano Pillars

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Mfon Udoh (|Enyimba FC)

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2015

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves)

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2016

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chisom Egbuchulam (Rangers International)

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Imama Amapakabo (Rangers International)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Rangers International

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists)

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2017{{Cite web |last=Dairo |first=Fisayo |date=2017-10-27 |title=NPFL: League Bloggers Awards gets November date |url=https://www.aclsports.com/npfl-league-bloggers-awards-gets-november-date/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=ACLSports |language=en-GB}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Anthony Okpotu{{Cite web |last=Dairo |first=Fisayo |date=2017-11-29 |title=Okpotu, Plateau United reign supreme at LBA Awards night |url=https://www.aclsports.com/7268-2/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=ACLSports |language=en-GB}} (Lobi Stars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Peter Eneji (Plateau United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kennedy Boboye (Akwa United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Plateau United

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Anthony Okpotu{{Cite web |date=2017-12-02 |title=Garlands for outstanding NPFL players in 2017 - Daily Trust |url=https://dailytrust.com/garlands-for-outstanding-npfl-players-in-2017/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=dailytrust.com/ |language=en-US}}(Lobi Stars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Michael Ohanu (Kwara United)

2018

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars)

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2019

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Mfon Udoh (|Enyimba FC)

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Usman Abd'Allah (Enyimba)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Enyimba Football Club

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Mfon Udoh (Enyimba Football Club)

{{flagicon|NGR}} Sunusi Ibrahim (Nasarawa United)

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2019-20

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Israel Abia (Rangers International)

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2020-21

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Silas Nwankwo (|Nasarawa United)

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kennedy Boboye (Akwa United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Akwa United

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Charles Atshimene (Akwa United)

{{flagicon|NGR}} Silas Nwankwo (Nasarawa United)

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2021-22

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United)

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|{{flagicon|NGR}} Stanley Eguma (Rivers United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Rivers United

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chijioke Akuneto (Rivers United)

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2022-23{{Cite web |last=Adewale |first=Abiodun |date=2023-08-22 |title=NPFL officials absent as Obioma, Ogunmodede win LBA awards |url=https://punchng.com/npfl-officials-absent-as-obioma-ogunmodede-win-lba-awards/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Victor |first=Ernest |date=2023-08-07 |title=2023 League Bloggers Awards' Nominees For NPFL End Of Season Awards |url=https://www.naijanews.com/2023/08/07/2023-league-bloggers-awards-nominees-for-npfl-end-of-season-awards/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Naija News |language=en-US}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba Football Club)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Remo Stars{{Cite web |last=Sports |first=Pulse |date=2023-08-23 |title=NPFL: Remo Stars sweep League Bloggers Awards, Enyimba's Obioma wins big |url=https://www.pulsesports.ng/football/story/npfl-remo-stars-league-bloggers-awards-enyimba-obioma-wins-big-2023082318140942247#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Pulse Sports Nigeria |language=en}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chukwuemeka Obioma (Enyimba Football Club)

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2023-24{{Cite web |last=Adewale |first=Abiodun |date=2024-07-18 |title=Mbaoma, Ismail, Suleiman battle for NPFL best player award |url=https://punchng.com/mbaoma-ismail-suleiman-battle-for-npfl-best-player-award/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chijioke Mbaoma{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2024-07-20 |title=Mbaoma wins NPFL Player of the Season award |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/07/20/mbaoma-wins-npfl-player-of-the-season-award/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}} (Enyimba FC)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Suleiman Sani{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2024-07-23 |title=Akwa United celebrate Suleiman's Rookie of the Season award |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/07/23/akwa-united-celebrate-suleimans-rookie-of-the-season-award/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}} (Akwa United)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Fidelis Ilechukwu{{Cite web |last=HUsiayo |date=2024-04-17 |title=NPFL: Illechukwu Dedicate Awards To Govenor [sic] Mbah |url=https://en.africatopsports.com/2024/04/17/npfl-illechukwu-dedicate-awards-to-govenor-mbah/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |language=en-US}} (Rangers International)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Rangers International

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Chijioke Mbaoma (|Enyimba FC)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Emem Essien (Edo Queens)

|{{flagicon|NGR}} Kparobo Arierhi{{Cite web |last=Adesanya |first=Taiwo |date=2024-07-20 |title=Kparobo dedicates NNL award to teammates, coaches |url=https://dailypost.ng/2024/07/20/kparobo-dedicates-nnl-award-to-teammates-coaches/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}} (Beyond Limits F.A.)

2024-25

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Sponsorship

In 2014, Betting brand, 1960BET{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2014-12-03 |title=1960BET is headline sponsor of 2014 League Bloggers Awards |url=https://thenicheng.com/1960bet-headline-sponsor-2014-league-bloggers-awards/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=TheNiche |language=en-US}} sponsored the awards and presented a brand new car to the Player of the Season, Mfon Udoh{{Cite web |title=Mfon Udoh wins best Nigerian League Player award |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/173326-mfon-udoh-wins-best-nigerian-league-player-award.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.premiumtimesng.com}} Football engagement platform, 54footballx, initially signed a two-year deal with the LBA in 2024 as Sponsor.

References