Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Justine Madugu have been nominated for major categories at the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or awards, marking a significant recognition of Nigerian talent on the global football stage.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been shortlisted for the Women’s Yachine Trophy, an award for the best female goalkeeper in the world. She is the only African player nominated in the category.
Nnadozie’s nomination comes after an exceptional season where she recorded 17 clean sheets in 31 matches for both club and country. She was instrumental in helping Nigeria win the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where she also picked up the Golden Glove award. At club level, she won the Coupe de France with Paris FC, secured UEFA Champions League qualification, and recently completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
In another big win for Nigerian football, Justine Madugu, head coach of the Super Falcons, has been nominated for the Women’s Team Coach of the Year award. Madugu’s nomination reflects his strong leadership during the WAFCON campaign and his ongoing efforts in rebuilding the national team into a competitive force on the global stage.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to be held on September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. Other top global names featured among the nominees include England’s Sarina Wiegman, Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, and Brazil’s Arthur Elias in the coaching category.
These nominations highlight Nigeria’s rising influence in women’s football and mark a proud moment for the country’s football community.
