The organiser of the Nigerian Sports Award has unveiled the top nominees for the 2015 edition, just as voting began on Wednesday to determine the eventual winners of the various categories.

The organiser, Unmissable Incentives Limited, unveiled the nominees at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Award Panel, Ikeddy Isiguzo, explained that the top nominees emerged having recorded highest frequency of nominations by the members of the public for their outstanding performances in their respective sports.

Isiguzo reiterated that an athlete is only eligible to win the Nigerian Sports Award if members of the public nominate him or her during the nomination phase for the award during the year of the award.

The Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu, noted that the long list of nominations was painstakingly scrutinised by the panel to shortlist the top nominees.

Idowu said two times winner of the Ball Sports Person of the Year, Aruna Quadri was re-nominated for the category alongside the duo of Chamberlain Oguchi and Olumide Oyedeji, who were members of the Nigeria men’s basketball team D’Tigers that won the 2015 AfroBasket.

D’Tigers coach William Voight will be competing with Nigeria powerlifting coach Are Feyisetan and the women’s cycling coach, Bashir Mohammed, in the Coach of the Year category.

Wrestler, Sinivie Boltic, is against boxer Efe Ajagba and Henry Hendrix (kung fu) in the Combat Sport Person of the Year category, while Taiwo Awoniyi (footballer), Kelechi Nwanaga (javeline), Tobiloba Amusan (hurdles) top nominations for the Discovery of the Year category.

Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Ngozi Okobi are contesting in the Footballer of the Year (Women) category, while Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa and the top scorer in the 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League, Tunji Adeniji, are the top nominees for the Footballer of the Year (Men).

World record breakers at the 2015 All African Games, Yakubu Adesokan and Loveline Obiji, will slog it out with Lovina Onyegbule for the Special Sport Person of the Year, while the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali battles Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut, for the Sports Administrator of the Year award.

Weightlifter, Balqis Otunla tackles Loveline Obiji and Lovina Onyegbule for the Sports Woman of the Year award, while Yakubu Adesokan, Chamberlain Oguchi and Aruna Quadri are the top three nominees for the Sports Man of the Year.