Nigeria’s hopes of reclaiming their African crown at this summer’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have been dealt a major blow after goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie suffered a worrying injury during Paris FC’s 4-0 win over Fleury 91 in the French Première Ligue, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 24-year-old Super Falcons star was forced off after 79 minutes and had to be stretchered off the pitch following a painful challenge by Fleury’s Inès Konan, who was only shown a yellow card for the foul.
Nnadozie, who had been in superb form this season, was replaced by French keeper Inès Marques after receiving treatment on the field.
The injury comes just over a month before Nigeria begin their WAFCON campaign in Morocco, with head coach Justin Madugu now facing an anxious wait for medical updates on one of his most important players.
Prior to her substitution, Nnadozie had made her 18th league appearance of the season and kept her 11th clean sheet for Paris FC.
Paris FC had already scored all four goals of the evening by the time she left the pitch, with Clara Matéo scoring twice and Kaja Korošec and Kessya Bussy also getting on the scoresheet.
Despite Nnadozie’s injury, Paris FC secured their 13th league victory of the campaign and remain in contention for more silverware.
They face city rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France Féminine final on May 3 at Stade de l’Epopée in Calais — a fixture Nnadozie will be desperate not to miss.
Paris FC have yet to disclose the full extent of the injury, but the timing could hardly be worse for Nigeria.
Nnadozie is expected to play a key role for the Super Falcons, who are aiming to win a record-extending 12th continental title. Nigeria are drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana for the WAFCON tournament, which kicks off on July 5.
BACK TO BACK INNIT ? GOD DID ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PUPIb58Y9v
— Nnadozie chiamaka (@Nadoziechiamaka) December 20, 2024
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Nnadozie was part of the squad that won the WAFCON title in 2018, but Nigeria relinquished their crown to South Africa in 2022 — a defeat they are determined to avenge this year.
There is, however, some good news for the Nigerian goalkeeper amid the setback.
Nnadozie has once again been nominated for the D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Season award, an honour she won last year despite fierce competition.
Notre gardienne Chiamaka Nnadozie est en lice pour le titre de meilleure gardienne en @ArkemaPL !
— Paris FC Féminines (@PFC_feminines) April 22, 2025
@Nadoziechiamaka
⚪️ #CertifiéParis https://t.co/Fxjee2yuwh
In 2023, she beat top contenders including Reims’ Kinga Szemik, Lyon’s Chilean star Christiane Endler, and PSG’s France international Constance Picaud to the award. She was also the only Paris FC and Nigerian player named in the league’s Team of the Year.
For the 2024–2025 edition, Nnadozie is nominated alongside Endler and England’s Mary Earps, now of Paris Saint-Germain. Only Endler, with 13 clean sheets, has more than Nnadozie’s tally of 11.
Nnadozie also won the CAF Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award last December for the second time, remaining the only shot-stopper to have claimed the honour.
