Taiwo Awoniyi, the Nigerian international striker at Coventry City, has received the Beyond the Pitch Award at the 2026 Best of Africa Awards, presented with the PFA for his charitable commitment and his support for grassroots football in Nigeria.
Taiwo Awoniyi has been honoured away from the pitch. According to Zalebs, the distinction is presented with the Professional Footballers’ Association.
The Beyond the Pitch Award does not reward sporting performances, but a player’s influence beyond the field. Awoniyi was honoured for his charitable work and his support for grassroots football and young players in Nigeria.
An award for action off the pitch
The detail matters: the prize recognises players whose influence goes beyond performances on the pitch. Awoniyi therefore owes it not to a scoreline or a run of goals, but to what he does away from matches.
According to Zalebs, it was his support for grassroots football and young players in Nigeria that earned him the distinction. The available details do not set out the scale of that work.
Surrounded by his family
The winner was not alone in receiving his trophy. He was accompanied by his wife Taiwo, his brother Victor Awoniyi, relatives and members of his team, Zalebs reports.
The women’s prize, also a Beyond the Pitch Award, went to England international Michelle Agyemang, according to the same source.
Fifteen years of winners
The Best of Africa Awards were launched in 2011 and honour people of African origin in sport, entertainment and business, according to Zalebs. The roll of honour is therefore not limited to football.
It nevertheless includes several well-known names from the game: Alex Iwobi received the Community Action Award in 2018, the year Egypt’s Mohamed Salah was crowned player of the year. Yaya Touré and Victor Wanyama also feature among past winners.
Awoniyi will then rejoin Coventry City on the pitch, in a forthcoming match for which the file specifies neither the date nor the opponent.