Nnadozie Injury Blow as Nigeria’s WAFCON Preparations Suffer Major Setback
Nigeria’s preparations for this summer’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have been rocked by the injury of first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was stretchered off during Paris FC’s 4-0 win over Fleury 91 in the French Première Ligue on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Super Falcons star was forced off in the 79th minute following a tough challenge from Fleury’s Inès Konan, who only received a yellow card for the foul. Nnadozie, who had kept 11 clean sheets in 18 league matches this season, was replaced by French goalkeeper Inès Marques after receiving on-field treatment.
Her injury comes just over a month before Nigeria kick off their WAFCON campaign in Morocco, where they are drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana. Head coach Justin Madugu now faces a nervous wait to learn the extent of the damage to one of his most crucial players.
Before her substitution, Paris FC had already wrapped up the game with goals from Clara Matéo (2), Kaja Korošec and Kessya Bussy. The win marked the club’s 13th league victory of the season, keeping them in strong contention for domestic honours.
Paris FC are set to face city rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France Féminine final on 3 May at Stade de l’Epopée in Calais — a showpiece fixture Nnadozie will be desperate not to miss.
While the club has not yet released a full medical update, the timing of the injury is a serious concern for Nigeria, who are hoping to reclaim the continental crown they lost to South Africa in 2022.
Nnadozie, part of the 2018 WAFCON-winning squad, remains a central figure in Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending 12th title. Despite her current setback, there was some positive news for the Imo-born goalkeeper: she has been nominated once again for the D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Season award.
The 2023 winner of the accolade, Nnadozie is shortlisted this year alongside Lyon’s Christiane Endler and England international Mary Earps, now at PSG. Only Endler (13) has kept more clean sheets than Nnadozie’s 11 in the current campaign.
She also remains the only player to have won the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, having claimed the title for the second time last December.
As fans and teammates await further news on her condition, the hope across Nigeria is that their star shot-stopper will recover in time to lead the Super Falcons at WAFCON 2024.
