Chiamaka Cynthia Nnadozie is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. She plays for Paris FC club in the French Division 1 Feminine and Nigeria national women’s team, the Super Falcons.
She is famous for her exceptional goalkeeping qualities notably reflexes, ability to make decisive saves, good aerial command and her presence inside the box. Chiamaka is as well brilliant with the ball at her feet and excellent in saving penalties. She is also magnificent in marshalling the defense and starting-up attacks.
Nnadozie is considered as the top female goalkeeper in Africa and among the best in the world. During the 2023 CAF Awards, she clinched the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Nnadozie won the best goalkeeper in the French women’s top league, Division 1 Feminine and the National Union of Professional Footballers goalkeeper award in 2023-24 becoming the first African to bag the accolades.
The super falcon is the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the Women’s World Cup.
Age ad Birthday
Born in Orlu, Immo State in Nigeria, on 8 December 2000, Chiamaka Nnadozie is 23 years old as at 2024. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Height
The Nigerian athlete is approximately 1.80 meters (5 feet 11 inches) tall.
Preferred foot
The star African goalkeeper is right-footed
Chiamaka Nnadozie Family
Chiamaka’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Nnadozie.
Not much information about her family has yet been revealed to the public.
Chiamaka Nnadozie Club Career
Early stages
The Super Falcon goalkeeper was born in a football family. She grew up playing the game with her brothers and cousins. Her father however initially had some reservations when she started taking football seriously. He wanted her daughter to focus on her studies and would repeatedly tell her that football was not for girls. Her mother on the other hand supported her, though without her dad’s knowledge. She would secretly provide money for transport to trainings and tournaments. And would even lie to her husband that their daughter was visiting a relative whenever she went out to play football. It was until the father saw her on television when he changed his mind and give her his full support.
River Angels: 2016-2020
Nnadozie began her career in professional football in 2016 when she signed for Nigerian side the River Angels. She became an integral part of the team. Chiamaka would soon raise to fame with her brilliant goalkeeping and excellent consistent performances between the sticks. She was a major contributor to the club winning the 2019-20 NWPL Championship.
Paris FC: 2020-present
On the 22 January 2020, the famous shot-stopper signed a 18-month deal with French club Paris FC. She has been a critical member of the Paris-based team since then. The Nigerian keeper has always given her all for her team to secure victories in both domestic and European competitions.
In June 2023, she extended her stay at the club until June 2025 after penning a new two-year deal with the French side.
On 9 September 2023, she made headlines when she confirmed her spot-kick saving prowess. Saving two penalties as the French underdogs knocked out 2022-23 UEFA WCL semi-finalist, Arsenal with a 4-2 win on spot-kicks. This was in the first round of 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers.
In the 2023-24 season Nnadozie kept 10 clean sheets in 28 French league matches to win the best goalkeeper of the Year 2023-24. She also bagged the National Union of Professional Footballers award of best goalkeeper.
Chiamaka Nnadozie International Career
Youth level
Nnadozie first donned her national colours when she played for the Nigeria U17 side but only made three appearance between 2016 and 2018.
She then got a call up into the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup where she played all the four matches. Here she pulled out exceptionally excellent performances consequently winning the Player of the Match award against Haiti. Soon after, she was named in the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations. Unfortunately, she sat on the bench throughout the tournament.
Her brilliant performances in goal during the 2019 Women WAFU Cup contributed amply to the Super Falcons victory in the tournament.
Senior level
The star goalkeeper got her first senior call up at the age of 19. This is when she was named in the Super Falcons team for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Following Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Korea, Shiamaka became the youngest goalkeeper in history to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup. Later that year, she was instrumental in Nigeria winning gold at the 12th African Games in Morocco when she saved three penalties against Cameroon in the finals.
In June 2023, Nnadozie was included in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Super Falcons’ 23-player squad. She captained Nigeria in their opening match against Canada and showcased a Player of the Match performance in the 0-0 draw. Her exceptional goalkeeping was one of the key contributors to Nigeria’s success in the tournament. The Super Falcons made it up to the round of 16 where they were eliminated by England on penalties.
Chiamaka Nnadozie Honours
River Angels
- Nigerian Women’s Championship: 2016
- Nigerian Women’s Cup: 2016, 2017, 2018
Nigeria
- African Women’s Championship: 2018
- African Games: 2019
Individual
- French Women’s League goalkeeper of the Year: 2023-24
- National Union of Professional Footballers best goalkeeper: 2023-24
- African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award: 2023
- IFFHS Africa’s Best Woman Goalkeeper: 2019
- NFF Awards Young Player of the Year: 2018 Nominee
- African Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2019 Nominee
- IFFHS World’s Best Woman Goalkeeper: 2019 Nominee