The goalkeeper for the Super Falcons, Chiamaka Nnadozie, is eagerly striving to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as Nigeria prepares for their pivotal final qualifying match against perennial rivals, South Africa.
Both teams have developed a fierce rivalry over time and are regarded as Africa’s top contenders due to their successes on the continent. However, it has been South Africa who has emerged victorious in recent encounters.
Banyana managed to defeat Nigeria in their last two clashes, during the 2022 Women’s Afcon in Morocco and the 2021 Aisha Buhari Cup, both tournaments which Banyana went on to win.
For Nnadozie, the significance of qualifying for the Olympic Games in France cannot be overstated.
“I read so many things about the Olympics. We didn’t manage to qualify in 2020, I felt bad at first, then I said to myself ‘Come on, you have time ahead of you’ and that’s it, another great opportunity to qualify,” she said.
“I want to know what it feels like to participate in the Olympic Games.”
Since 2020, the Nigerian goalkeeper has lived in the City of Lights for four years, where she plays for topflight club Paris FC. Having fallen in love with this city, Nnadozie wants to participate in the Olympic Games which will take place in her second home.
Apart from being the location of her club side, France holds significant importance for Nnadozie. It was in France that the goalkeeper made her breakthrough onto the international stage on June 17, 2019. On that day, the Super Falcons journeyed to Rennes, located in the western part of France, where she earned her debut under coach Thomas Dennerby.
The Olu native demonstrated her skills against the Bleues until she unfortunately conceded a penalty in the 79th minute. Despite Nigeria’s narrow loss, Nnadozie laid a solid foundation for her promising career and has since earned a reputation as a penalty saver.
Nnadozie arrived in Paris in February 2020 and wasted no time settling in. She quickly made an impact and was twice nominated for the best goalkeeper category in the UNFP awards, which recognizes players competing in the French league.
“She is one of the best goalkeepers of her generation” said Sandrine Soubeyrand, her coach at Paris FC.
A few years later, the Nigerian goalkeeper was honored as the Best Women’s Goalkeeper in Africa at the 2023 CAF Awards.
Inspired by this recognition and her performance at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand 2023, where she captained Nigeria to the round of 16, Nnadozie is determined to lead her team to the Olympics.
To achieve this goal, Nnadozie and Nigeria must overcome reigning African champions South Africa in a two-legged fixture scheduled for April 5 and 9.
Nigeria’s last participation in the Olympics dates back to 2008 when the Super Falcons’ goalkeeper was Toby Oluechi.
“I like how she (Oluechi) talks to us about it, the advice she gives us and how much she insists telling us that it is important to qualify for the Games. It’s a great tournament, according to her. Through all her stories, I want to qualify even more.” Nnadozie added.