'world Has Been Watching' - Nnadozie's 'miracle' Year

The summertime months of 2025 person been unforgettable for goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The 24-year-old helped Nigeria triumph a record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title successful July, a period aft securing a dream move to nan Women's Super League when she joined Brighton from Paris FC.

To headdress it off, she became nan first African goalkeeper to beryllium shortlisted for nan Women's Ballon d'Or award.

"It is simply a occurrence for me. It shows that each nan difficult work, dedication and everything I've been doing successful nan past, has been worthy it," Nnadozie told BBC Sport.

"The world has been watching. It will make a very large effect successful Africa because we person truthful galore bully players and they conscionable request nan opportunity to show what they tin really do.

"It lets others cognize that everything is achievable and everything is possible. This information is not conscionable for me, it is for Africa.

"It is for each young woman dreaming to go immoderate they want to be. They conscionable person to judge successful themselves."

Nnadozie said it is conscionable a matter of clip earlier much African players are represented successful nan Ballon d'Or nominations.

She hopes others tin travel successful nan footsteps of large names specified arsenic Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda and Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga, but insists talented players don't person to move overseas to beryllium themselves.

"Trust me, location are truthful galore bully talents from Africa. It is conscionable astir giving them nan clip and opportunity," added Nnadozie.

"In nan Moroccan nationalist team, you tin spot really bully they are and immoderate of them are still playing successful Morocco. The South African squad are nan same.

"It doesn't mean they can't spell connected to play successful Europe, but it shows you really large African shot is growing. The federations should support investing.

"They should support doing what they are doing. They are already connected nan correct track. I dream successful nan future, large competitions [like nan World Cup] will travel down to Africa."

Nnadozie knowledgeable Champions League shot during her five-year spell pinch Paris FC.

She came adjacent to moving to nan WSL past play but says she stayed to spot retired her statement successful France, pinch Paris FC reluctant for her to go.

Nnadozie thought her opportunity to play successful nan WSL was complete until Brighton came calling.

"It was a emotion of joyousness for maine and my family," she said. "They kept asking maine questions. They didn't really understand wherever Brighton was until I told them it was successful nan UK.

"It has ever been my dream to play successful England. Moving to Brighton is simply a typical one. From nan first clip they came knocking, I knew they were nan one.

"I'm happy to beryllium here. I told my family it was not going to beryllium for illustration it was successful Paris. It will not beryllium easy. The WSL is simply a very beardown league."

She has made a beardown commencement astatine Brighton, earning nan club's subordinate of nan lucifer grant aft redeeming each 4 of Aston Villa's shots connected target successful Sunday's 0-0 draw.

"I cognize I'm up to nan task and fresh to go," Nnadozie said successful nan run-up to that game.

"I've sewage bully team-mates, bully coaches and everyone successful nan squad is truthful welcoming. They will thief maine a batch to fresh into nan crippled and everything [in England].

"I want to study and to grow. I'm not location yet. I conscionable want to springiness myself time. I don't want to unreserved things."