A Step Away from History

Chiamaka Nnadozie

Since making her debut for the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the age of 19 in 2019 at the WAFU Cup tournament, Chiamaka Nnadozie has stood tall between the sticks for country and club, and come December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco, the former Rivers Angel safehands would be hoping to become the first goaltender to win CAF Player of the Year after the Africa football ruling body on Wednesday listed her among the last five nominees for the Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year categories

 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday listed Super Falcons and Paris FC safe hands, Chiamaka Nnadozie, among the last five nominees for the 2024 Player of the Year, as well as the Goalkeeper of the Year Award categories, scheduled for December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Nnadozie is amongst the five top players in the continent in line for the prestigious Player of the Year award.

It would, however, not be a rollercoaster for the Super Falcons Number 1 goalkeeper as she has Zambia and Orlando Pride’s goalkeeper, Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Chawinga sisters (Tabhita and Temwa) and Morocco’s AS FAR Sanaâ Mssoudy to contend with in the battle for the award.

Nnadozie also featured in the list of five players shortlisted for the Goalkeeper of the Year category.

The other four nominees for the Goalkeeper of the Year award include; Fideline Ngoy of DR Congo/TP Mazembe; Habiba Sabry of Egypt/FC Masar; Khadija Er-Rmichi of Morocco/AS FAR) and Andile Dlamini of South Africa/ Mamelodi Sundowns.

After a recent friendly encounter between France and Nigeria, Les Bleues, head coach, Laurent Bonadie, heaped plaudits on Nnadozie despite win over the Super Falcons. Les Bleues claimed a 2-1 victory over the nine-time African champions in a keenly contested friendly encounter in Angers last Saturday night, in a game Nnadozie made eight superb saves.

“Nigeria is a team that defends well. We lacked efficiency and remained under pressure until the end,” the gaffer told a post-match press conference.

“Chiamaka Nnadozie made some good saves. I’m quite happy with the game,” said the French gaffer after the match.

Since making her debut for the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the age of 19 in 2019 at the WAFU tournament, Nnadozie has not looked back on cementing her name as Though Nigeria has never lacked good goalkeepers from the days of Anne Chiejine to the time of Precious Dede, but Nnadozie’s qualities are definitely raising the bar.

Since 2019, the Paris FC of France shot stopper has been an undisputed number one for Nigeria and she is also the number one for her club, displaying stellar performances week in, week out.

The former Rivers Angels player was also in goal for the Super Falcons against Algeria in an international friendly in Ikenne, Ogun State, in which she recorded a clean sheet as the Falcons defeated their opponents 2-0. “For me, I am always very happy to keep clean sheets because as goalkeepers that is one thing we aim for in every game.

“It’s not always easy not to concede goals as a goalkeeper. So, when you manage to shut the opponents from seeing the back of the net for ninety minutes, it’s always a special delight.

“I still have a long way to go, to achieving all my career targets but I am grateful for where I am now and I am definitely working hard to achieve more for both club and Country,” she said.

The clean sheet against Algeria was Nnadozie’s second back-to-back clean sheet after she was also flawless for her club, Paris FC, in her last game before joining the national team camp.

She even had the best rating for her club of 8.9 in the goalless draw against French Women Football giants, Lyon.

Another unique aspect of her game that is very rare, is her ability to save penalties. She is unarguably one of the best penalty goalkeepers in the women’s game.

She saved a crucial penalty for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Canada and she has gone ahead to do the same for her club both in the league and the Women’s Uefa Champions League. It is no surprise that top European women clubs are keenly eyeing the former Nigeria junior International for a big transfer and her days with Paris FC are definitely numbered.

According to CAF, the winners of the Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year and other award categories

will be determined through votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of member associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of Interclub competitions.

The 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year.

As soccer loving Nigerians would be counting the days for the CAF Award night in Morocco, all eyes would be on Nnadozie and, indeed, Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman for the country to do the double again, as she did in the last edition with Victor Osimhen and Assisat Oshoala.