LBA announces eight nominees for NPFL February awards

LBA announces eight nominees for NPFL February awards

Nigeria’s foremost league awards, the League Bloggers Awards (LBA), has shortlisted four coaches and players each, in its monthly Coach and Player of the Month awards for February 2026.

The LBA has been celebrating coaches and players in the NPFL since 2009 and in 2012 instituted its first End Of Season Award.

Nominees for the Coach of the month award include Fidelis Ilechukwu (Rangers), Gbenga Ogunbote (Plateau United), Azeez Mohammed (Katsina United) and Bright Ozegagbe (Ikorodu City).

Ilechukwu and January winner, Ogunbote make the prestigious list for the second time in 2026.

In the race for the Player of the Month Award are Uche Collins (Katsina United),

Jonathan Mariga (Wikki Tourists), Joseph Arumala (Ikorodu City) and the only goalkeeper, Chisom Chiaha (Barau FC).

Chiaha was nominated in January and earns his second nomination this year.

Ilechukwu and Mohammed were unbeaten, while Ogunbote and Ozegagbe earned away victories in the month under review to justify their nominations.

For players, it was a month loaded with goals for, Collins, Mariga as well as Arumala, who are designed for goals as strikers and an outstanding performance between-the-sticks for Barau FC goalkeeper, Chiaha. 

Collins scored five goals, including a hattrick at Wikki Tourists in an eight-goal thriller. 

Wikki's Mariga was also on fire with four goals, including a brace and an assist in the match that produced eight goals against Katsina United. 

Arumala scored thrice in back-to-back games and was on target in the famous road trip win at Enyimba. 

To earn his nomination, Chiaha kept a clean sheet in three consecutive matches including an away match at Warri Wolves (270 minutes) and conceded his only goal in February after 83 minutes at Rivers United. 

Winners of both categories will be announced on Tuesday, next week.