Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has made history after finishing fourth in the 2025 Yashin Trophy voting, becoming the highest-placed African ever in the prestigious award for the world’s best goalkeepers.
The 24-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion star, who joined the Women’s Super League side this summer from Paris FC, earned the recognition at the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris. Her landmark finish reflects both her rapid rise and Africa’s growing influence on the global stage of women’s football.
Nnadozie’s breakthrough comes on the back of a stellar year in which she anchored Nigeria’s 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph, winning the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper award.
At club level, she left Paris FC with an impressive record of 38 clean sheets in 85 matches before her switch to England. Her commanding presence also proved vital in Nigeria’s dramatic penalty shootout victories.
Fans celebrated the milestone across social media, hailing Nnadozie as a trailblazer for African football. “Chiamaka Nnadozie 4th in Yashin Trophy? That’s not just a win for Nigeria, that’s Africa claiming its throne,” one viral post read.
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Born in Orlu, Imo State, Nnadozie’s rise has been remarkable. From lifting the NWPL title with Rivers Angels in 2019 to shining at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she saved a penalty against Canada’s Christine Sinclair, her journey has captured attention worldwide. Now at Brighton, she is seen as a key figure in the club’s ambition to push beyond its historic sixth-place finish.
Nnadozie is the first Nigerian woman to break into the Yashin Trophy top five, joining pioneers like Asisat Oshoala in challenging European dominance in the sport. For the Super Falcons star, the recognition is only the beginning.
With the Olympic Games and new club challenges ahead, Nnadozie’s rise signals a new era for African goalkeeping excellence.
