Nigerian Women’s National Team stars Chiamaka Nnadozie and coach Justine Madugu have been nominated for prestigious individual awards at the upcoming 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Nnadozie, the Super Falcons’ celebrated goalkeeper currently with Brighton, has been shortlisted for the Women’s Yachine Trophy, an award recognizing the best female goalkeeper. She is among five finalists, including Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Spain’s Cata Coll (FC Barcelona), England’s Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), and Daphne Van Domselaar (Arsenal).
The nomination follows Nnadozie’s outstanding performance at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where she was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper as Nigeria clinched their 10th title. The Falcons defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final held on July 26, 2025, in Rabat.
Meanwhile, Coach Justine Madugu, who masterminded the Super Falcons’ victorious campaign, is nominated for the Women’s Team Coach of the Year Trophy. She joins a competitive field including Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, Brazil’s Arthur Elias, Arsenal’s Renée Slegers, and England’s Sarina Wiegman.
The 69th Ballon d’Or awards ceremony is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
Following their historic WAFCON success, the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, honored the Super Falcons with the Officer of the Order of the Niger national award. Each player received a cash reward equivalent to $100,000, while the technical team was granted $50,000 each. Additionally, every team member was promised a three-bedroom apartment as a recognition of their outstanding achievements.
