Tag: Chiamaka Nnadozie

Super Falcons and Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2025 Award, following an exceptional season for both club and country.

The 24-year-old’s performances between August 2024 and August 2025 have earned her global acclaim. She was instrumental in Paris FC’s Coupe de France triumph, where she kept a clean sheet in the final and saved two penalties in the shootout victory over PSG.

At international level, Nnadozie shone as Nigeria clinched their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, recording four clean sheets in six matches and pulling off crucial saves in the knockout rounds.

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Now with Brighton & Hove Albion, she has continued her fine form in the Women’s Super League, earning Player of the Match on debut and nominations for both the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month and WSL Save of the Month awards.

For the FIFA honour, Nnadozie faces competition from top global keepers including Hannah Hampton, Ann-Katrin Berger, Christiane Endler, Cata Coll, Anna Moorhouse, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

The winner will be decided by a panel comprising national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans voting on FIFA.com.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Nigerian international Chiamaka Nnadozie has missed out on the Women’s Super League Save of the Month award for October 2025.

The WSL announced that Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar claimed the accolade for her remarkable save against Brighton & Hove Albion.

During the match, the Seagulls delivered a cross from the right for Carla Camacho, who fired towards goal, but Van Domselaar reacted superbly, diving to her right to tip the effort past the post.

Other contenders for the monthly honour included Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Everton’s Emily Ramsey and Leicester City’s Janina Leitzig.

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Nnadozie earned her nomination thanks to a brilliant stop against Tottenham Hotspur, further underlining her impressive start to life in England.

Since joining Brighton from Paris FC in the summer, the 2024 WAFCON winner has featured in six league matches, keeping two clean sheets and conceding just five goals.

The Nigerian goalkeeper has made 24 saves in the WSL so far this season, including 14 from inside the box—a tally bettered only by Leicester City’s Janina Leitzig (29).

• Madugu Misses out on Cruyff Award

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has received global recognition after being ranked fourth in the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, awarded by France Football to the best goalkeeper in the world.

The Brighton shot-stopper capped a stellar year by leading Nigeria to their record 10^th  Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown, where she also emerged as the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper. Her consistent form has now earned her a place among the world’s top five, underlining her growing reputation as one of the finest in her position.

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While Nnadozie celebrated international acclaim, Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu narrowly missed out on global honours. The Nigerian tactician, who masterminded the WAFCON triumph earlier this year, finished behind England’s Sarina Wiegman in the race for the Johan Cruyff Award for Best Women’s Coach. Wiegman was recognised after guiding the Lionesses to the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship title.

Together, Nnadozie and Madugu’s achievements underlined Nigeria’s rising stature in women’s football on the global stage.

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie  at the weekend marked her Barclays Women’s Super League debut for Brighton and Hove Albion Women with a clean sheet.

The Africa’s  Best Goalkeeper who joined the English outfit from Paris FC in the 2025/26 season, made four saves against Aston Villa to record her first clean sheet in the English league after it ended goalless.

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Nnadozie, who played the full 90 minutes made two crucial saves from inside the box, recorded two high claims, successful 2/2 run(s) out, made three punches, five clearances and won 2/2 aerial duels. She capped off a brilliant afternoon by making 44 touches and was rated 7.6, which was the highest rating for Brighton.

Prior to her debut for the English side, Nnadozie’s impeccable statistics in 2025 include; 17 clean sheets, winner of Coup de France with Paris FC, champions League qualification with the French side, league playoffs with Paris FC, WAFCON trophy with the Super Falcons and WAFCON Golden Glove winner

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has expressed immense joy after being nominated for the prestigious 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, describing the recognition as a major milestone in her career, Bold Sports reports.

The 24-year-old had a stellar season, helping Paris FC lift the Coupe de France for the first time in over 20 years, and playing a key role in Nigeria’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph — a record-extending achievement on the continent.

 “This nomination means a lot to me. It’s a thing of joy for me and my family. It shows that all the hard work, all the consistency, all the prayers — it’s been working,” Nnadozie said. “Of course, I’m so happy about this. For me, it’s like a morale booster. Whatever you’re doing, the world is watching. Never stop.”

Nnadozie is one of five finalists for the Women’s Yachine Trophy, which honours the best female goalkeeper in the world over the past year. She is joined on the shortlist by Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Cata Coll (Spain), Hannah Hampton (England), and Daphne van Domselaar (Netherlands).

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 “This Ballon d’Or nomination means the whole world to me. It shows that we have a lot of good goalkeepers in Africa,” added Nnadozie who recently moved from Paris FC to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Beyond personal celebration, Nnadozie used her nomination as a platform to motivate fellow African goalkeepers.

 “I want to use this opportunity to encourage every one of us — all the goalkeepers in Africa — to keep working hard, keep doing what you’re doing, and I believe one day the skies will be your starting point.”

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will also feature the presentation of the Women’s Yachine Trophy, is set to take place on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Following Super Falcons’ record-extending 10^th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph, coach Justine Madugu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie have both been shortlisted in  2025  Ballon d’Or, a prestigious award presented by  influential magazine, France Football.

While Madugu made the cut for the Ballon d’Or Johan Cruyff Trophy,  Nnadozie  has  been nominated for the Women’s Yashin Trophy.

Madugu’s nomination comes on the heels of his outstanding achievement with the Super Falcons following the spectacular manner  his team bounced from a 2-0  first half deficit   to clinch a remarkable 3-2  win  against the hosts, Morocco, in the WAFCON final. .

Under his leadership throughout the tournament, Nigeria displayed tactical discipline, resilience and attacking flair  which culminated  in that  dramatic comeback victory.

His coaching acumen also earned him the Best Coach of the Tournament award at WAFCON 2024, further cementing his reputation as one of Africa’s top football minds. The 61-year-old, who previously managed Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, has been widely praised for promoting home-grown talent and instilling a renewed sense of unity and purpose within the squad.

Madugu is shortlisted alongside some of the world’s best coaches including England’s Sarina Wiegman, Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, Brazil’s Arthur Elias, and Arsenal Women’s Renée Slegers.

Meanwhile,  Nnadozie is listed  for the  2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, an award usually presented  to the best female goalkeeper in the world.

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Nnadozie’s inclusion on the shortlist comes after an outstanding year for both club and country. The 24-year-old played a crucial role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2024 WAFCON.

She kept four clean sheets throughout the tournament and was named Best Goalkeeper as well as earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament. At club level, Nnadozie was instrumental in helping Paris FC win the Coupe de France Féminine, making two vital penalty saves in the shootout victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Her heroics not only secured the club’s first major title in years but also earned her widespread recognition across Europe. She has since signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League, becoming the first Nigerian female goalkeeper to play in the league.

She is nominated alongside four other goalkeepers: Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger, Spain’s Cata Coll, England’s Hannah Hampton, and the Netherlands’ Daphne van Domselaar. The winner will be announced during the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony on September 22^nd  in Paris.

The Nominations:

Women’s coach of the year: Sonia Bompastor, Arthur Elias, Justine Madugu, Renee Slegers, Sarina Wiegman.

Yashin trophy women: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Daphne van Domselaar

Brighton Ladies FC of England goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie has declared that she and her colleagues in Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons are fully focused on their last two matches at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Sports247 reports that Nnadozie and her teammates booked a ticket into the semi-finals of WAFCON 2024 with a 5-0 trouncing of Zambia on Friday, which automatically gives them two more matches to go in the competition.

While casting a look back at Friday’s stunning victory at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Chiamaka Nnadozie admitted it was a remarkable achievement for the Falcons and thanked God for making it possible.

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The former Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt and Paris FC of France shot-stopper revealed, “This makes my body sweet, and I’m very excited. We played good football, and we scored five goals against a great side. It’s not easy.

“So, I say kudos to the players and to the coaches. We’ve been working so hard to win our matches. Thank God we were able to show the world what Super Falcons truly is.”

Nnadozie, who got a well-placed assist on Nigeria’s third sizzler, which was netted by the team’s new top striker, Chinwendu Ihezuo, also spoke about the spread of goals among five different players during the match.

Brighton Women have completed the signing of Nigerian international goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie from Paris FC.

The 24-year-old will join Brighton on July 1st once her contract with Paris FC expires.

During the 2024-25 season, Brighton’s current goalkeepers, Sophie Baggaley and Melina Loeck, both played 14 games.

Brighton boss Dario Vidosic, though, hopes that Nnadozie will bring ‘consistency and confidence’ to the club’s defensive line.

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The Nigerian goalkeeper said: “It feels so great, I am excited to be joining this great club. Right from the beginning, when I heard the name of the club, I was so interested, and I’m happy to be here.”

Meanwhile, Vidosic added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Chiamaka to the club. She’s a talented and commanding goalkeeper who will bring consistency and confidence to our defensive line.

“She has competed at the highest level, with valuable experience in a variety of cup competitions, including the Champions League.

“We’re confident she’ll add both depth and drive to a squad already full of ambition as we continue to build for next season.”

Reigning Africa’s best goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie had a game to remember forever as Nigeria’s Super Falcons provided both flair and steel in a 0-0 draw with hosts Portugal in a pre-WAFCON friendly match in Lisbon on Monday.

The nine-time African champions, aspiring boldly for a 10th title , only arrived in Portugal less than 24 hours before the encounter, but advertised no signs of fatigue or lassitude as they stood up to the Portuguese in a game that indicated readiness to battle for the continental crown in Morocco.

A back pass by Christy Ucheibe allowed Diana Silva sight of the Nigeria goal in the 6th minute, but her shot spurned the ball away from goal. In the 9th minute, Nnadozie plucked the ball off the air from a pull-out, and at the other end, the fabulous Francisca Ordega cut into the box and found captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose smart turn and shot nearly wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

Nnadozie pulled off another epic save in the 24^th  minute, and as the home girls launched onslaught after onslaught, only Nnadozie’s heroics and stonewall defending by the Falcons kept the score line even. Just before half time, Nigeria could have taken the lead against the run of play, but Rinsola Babajide over hit the ball from an opportunity that presented itself after Ordega had been foiled with a last-ditch effort.

In the second stanza, Africa’s number one pulled off three world-class saves within a spate of four minutes, denying the dangerous Jessica Silva, Fatima Pinto and Andreia Norton.

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The injection of Ifeoma Onumonu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde rejuvenated Nigeria’s game, and as the Falcons took control, Ordega’s brilliant move and pass into the box in the 64th minute went begging.

The Falcons revved the engine to dominate the final 20 minutes, during which the vibrant Ordega rattled the crossbar from distance and Onumonu just fell short of squaring past the goalkeeper from another inspired Ordega cross.

At the end, the Super Falcons gave a good account of themselves, and left the Portuguese fans stunned with an elegant outing at the Estádio José Gomes.

The Nigeria contingent will depart from Lisbon for Casablanca tomorrow, where they will take on Ghana’s Black Queens in another friendly match on Sunday.

Their first match of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations comes up on Sunday, 6th July against Tunisia in Casablanca.