Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie will aim to crown a standout debut season in England with silverware on Sunday when Brighton & Hove Albion take on Manchester City in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
The 25-year-old joined Brighton from Paris FC last summer and has quickly established herself as one of the club’s key performers in the Women’s Super League. Her consistent displays earned her a place in the WhoScored.com Team of the Season after recording six clean sheets in 19 league appearances and posting an average rating of 6.87.
Nnadozie’s form has been central to Brighton’s strong campaign under head coach Dario Vidosic, helping the team secure a top-half finish and string together their longest unbeaten run in over a decade.
The Nigerian goalkeeper heads into the Wembley final in confident mood after playing a decisive role in Brighton’s semi-final comeback victory over Liverpool. She also featured in the league win over Manchester City earlier in the season, a result that has boosted belief within the squad ahead of the rematch against the champions.
One of her defining moments of the campaign came in November when she produced a stunning fingertip save against Liverpool, a stop that earned her the WSL Save of the Month award and a nomination for Save of the Season.
Widely regarded as Africa’s best female goalkeeper in recent years, Nnadozie has been named among the key players to watch in the final and says she is relishing the occasion.
“I can’t wait to play at Wembley. So excited! I can’t wait , bring it on. It’s super amazing. This team has been through a lot this season,” she said.
“We’ve worked hard, we deserve it. Big thank you to our fans, because they have been with us from day one. Even when we travel far away to play, they are there before us — as soon as we step off the bus, they are screaming. So, I would say: thank you, keep supporting, keep praying for us. And hopefully we will make you proud on Sunday.”
A victory at Wembley would secure Brighton’s first major trophy and provide a fitting climax to Nnadozie’s impressive debut season in English football.
