In a historic moment for Nigerian football, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the talented international goalkeeper, has left an indelible mark on the French D1 Arkema (women’s league) by clinching the title of the best goalkeeper. Nnadozie’s achievement not only signifies a personal triumph but also marks a significant milestone as the first African and Nigerian player to receive this prestigious honor in the league.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper’s exceptional performance throughout the season, characterized by her remarkable saves, particularly in penalty shootouts, solidified her reputation as one of the world’s finest goalkeepers. Her outstanding displays between the posts saw her outshine formidable contenders such as Christiane Endler from Olympic Lyon and Katarzyna Kiedrzynek from Paris SG to claim the highly coveted individual award.
Reflecting on Nnadozie’s remarkable feat, Pierre Ferracci, the president of Nnadozie’s club, Paris FC, expressed his delight, stating, “It’s very pleasing because she deserves it and she achieved an exceptional Champions League and not only on penalties. She is adorable. It is deserved. We know that she will be courted this summer, but we will try to keep her.”
Nnadozie’s prowess in saving penalties set her apart this season, with an impressive tally of seven penalty saves – a feat that crowned her as the goalkeeper with the highest number of penalty saves in Europe.
Despite her individual accolades, Nnadozie remains committed to her team, Paris FC, currently positioned third in the league with 42 points. Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Nnadozie took to social media platform X to share her joy, writing, “Excited to have won the French D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Year. A big thanks to everyone who voted for me and also a special appreciation to my coaches and teammates for all the support and encouragement, to amazing family and Naija fans Una too much. GOD DID.”
This recent honor adds to Nnadozie’s growing list of achievements, having previously been awarded the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023.
