Playing with the boys gave me a lot of confidence– Super Falcon’s Chiamaka Nnadozie

Chiamaka Nnadozie was among the top Super Falcons players that impressed at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has unveiled the source of her goalkeeping prowess, Soccernet.ng reports.

Under her captaincy, the Nigerian national women's football team showcased their prowess at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, silencing critics and establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Nnadozie, notably known for thwarting the Canadian team's attempts at victory, credits her self-assuredness in the 2019 World Cup and the recent Women's World Cup to her experiences playing alongside male players.

In a conversation with Brila FM, she revealed the transformative impact of playing with the boys. She described the challenges of being treated equally on the field, enduring their competitive intensity, and the ruggedness that came with it.

“Playing with the boys, it really helped me. It gave me a lot of confidence, because you know, when you are playing with the girls, they don't want to know if you are a girl or not. They will hit you so hard, they will go hard on you, so that really helped me,” she shared.

Expanding on her journey, Nnadozie expressed gratitude for her goalkeeper trainer, Lateef Yusuf, who played a pivotal role in enhancing her skills and abilities.

The 22-year-old acknowledged the influence of Yusuf's rigorous coaching methods, which were rooted in pushing her beyond her limits.

“Again, thanks to my coach, Lateef Yusuf, he is a very nice coach. He is the goalkeeper coach of Shooting Stars, he trains with the men and he is always like ‘I no go pity una I, I no go train una like girls o (I won't show you mercy, I won't train you like girls). You people have to be strong’ so that really helped me a lot,” she added.

As the Nigerian International resumes her club duties, she aims to carry forward her impressive form from the Women's World Cup to the club level.