Nominees for LBA revealed

The League Bloggers Awards (LBA) has announced its shortlists for performances in the month of April in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

On Thursday, the LBA named Kennedy Boboye of Plateau United, Nasarawa
United’s Kabiru Dogo, Ifeanyiubah’s Ghanaian manager Yaw Preko and
Abdu Maikaba of Akwa United as the men to contend for the manager’s
award for April.

The players’ shortlist has Katsina United big striker Chinedu Udechukwu, Akwa United’s Alhassan Ibrahim, Nasarawa United defender Yinka Onaolapo and Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars.

Boboye, Maikaba and Preko led Plateau United, Akwa United and FC Ifeanyiubah respectively to unbeaten streaks in the month under review. Dogo, named for the second time on the bounce among the LBA  nominees, suffered a 1-0 reverse at ABS FC with Nasarawa United whom he guided to win their two other games in April but still squeezed himself among the top-four performing managers.

In the player’s category, Udechukwu accounted for three of four goals scored by Katsina United in the month of April while Akwa United’s Alhassan scored four goals including a hattrick in his team’s 4-2 win over 3SC on 2 April. Alhassan also provided the assist for Akwa United’s winning goal at Kano Pillars.

Onaolapo did not only put in a big shift for Nasarawa United defensive-wise, his bombing runs forward also yielded a goal and two assists for the month of April from his right-back position.

Okpotu completes the list of nominees vying for the April player’s award. The Lobi man helped his team to their only win of the month under review when he netted a memorable hattrick in their 3-1 win over Sunshine Stars.

The LBA will announce the winners of the player and manager’s award for April, next week.

APRIL NOMINEES

PLAYERS
Chinedu Udechukwu (Katsina United)
Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United)
Yinka Onaolapo (Nasarawa United)
Anthony Okpotu (Akwa United)

MANAGERS
Kennedy Boboye (Plateau United)
Kabiru Dogo (Nasarawa United)
Yaw Preko (FC Ifeanyiubah)
Abdu Maikaba (Akwa United)