Millwall forward Femi Azeez has been nominated for the Championship Player of the Season at the EFL Awards 2026, joining three other players in contention for the top honour in England's second tier. The 24-year-old has recorded 15 goal involvements this season, a standout tally that has propelled him onto the shortlist alongside Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney, Coventry City's Carl Rushworth and Swansea City's Zan Vipotnik. The winner will be revealed at the annual EFL Awards ceremony in London on April 19.
In League Two, Bromley centre-back Omar Sowunmi is up for the Player of the Season award, recognized for his dominant defensive displays and aerial threat. Standing 6ft 6in—just one inch shorter than Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu—the 30-year-old has scored five of his six league goals with his head. He faces competition from Swindon Town's Aaron Drinan, fellow Bromley player Mitch Pinnock and Milton Keynes Dons' Callum Paterson.
Notts County midfielder Tom Iorpenda, 21, has earned a nomination for League Two Young Player of the Season after playing every match this campaign. He has contributed three goals and six assists, showcasing consistency and creativity. He is shortlisted with Salford City's Matty Young, Walsall's Daniel Kanu and Gillingham's Sam Gale.
Sowunmi, born in Colchester, has expressed interest in representing the Super Eagles if contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Femi Azeez's nomination for Championship Player of the Season is a quiet breakthrough for a player who has flown under the radar despite matching the output of more celebrated forwards. His 15 goal involvements are not just a personal best—they place him among the most influential attackers in a fiercely competitive division, where consistent performances outweigh fleeting moments of brilliance.
The tactical edge of players like Sowunmi underscores a growing trend in lower-league football: physical dominance as a calculated weapon. Scoring five headed goals is not accidental—it reflects set-piece precision and defensive disruption, qualities that make him more than just a presence at the back. His inclusion alongside teammates like Pinnock also highlights Bromley's collective strength, turning individual recognition into a statement about the club's season.
For Nigerian football, Sowunmi's form and eligibility add depth to a national team that has long sought reliable defensive options with aerial prowess. If the Nigeria Football Federation takes note, his potential call-up could offer a new dimension in set-piece scenarios, both defensively and offensively. Iorpenda's consistency also signals promise, showing that Nigerian-eligible talent is emerging through steady, rather than spectacular, development in England's lower tiers.
The April 19 ceremony could mark the beginning of wider recognition for these players, especially if Azeez takes the Championship prize—a rare feat for a Millwall attacker in recent memory.
