Two-time Africa’s goalkeeper of the year, Chiamaka Nnadozie was the star of the Coupe de France Feminine on Saturday as Paris FC ended a 20-year wait for the cup title.
The Nigerian goalkeeper saved two penalties during a tense shoot-out after the final match at Stade de l’Epopee ended in a goalless draw at the end of regular time.
It was a thrilling and fast-paced encounter in Calais with the two teams creating chances to break the deadlock but Paris FC started with an early dominance when captain Gaetane Thiney found the back of the net but she was ruled out for offside.
At the other end, it was a busy afternoon for PSG goalkeeper Katarzyna Kiedrzynek before the shoot-out and they also had their goal disallowed some minutes after the hour-mark as Romee Leuchter was ruled to be in an offside position.
The game went straight into penalty shoot-out after the goalless affair and it ended 5-4 in favour of Sandrine Soubeyrand’s ladies.
After Clara Mateo’s shot hit the crossbar, Nnadozie rose to the occasion and saved the day for Paris FC by stopping Korbin Albert and Jade Le Guilly’s attempt to seal the win.
Nnadozie’s last dance before switch
The success brings an end to Nnadozie’s five-year stay in Paris as all is set for her permanent switch Women’s Super League club, Everton.
The Coupe de France Feminine remains her only silverware in the French capital but she bows out with her head held up high after winning the Goalkeeper of the Season in the French women’s top-flight last season, and she also produced a string of fine performances in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The former Rivers Angels has been nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Season award for the 2024-25 campaign and she also made the French Women’s League Team of the Season for the second straight season after keeping 11 clean sheets in 18 games this campaign.
She has already sign a pre-contract agreement with Everton where she will reunite with her Nigerian teammate, Toni Payne.
Paris’ dominance of French football
Paris is not just the economic capital of France but the hub of professional football in France with Paris Saint-Germain dominating the men’s scene while Paris FC and PSG are challenging Olympique Lyon’s dominance in women’s football.
PSG are winners of the 2024-25 French Ligue 1 season and they are also in the Coupe de France final while their women’s team, nine-time cup champions, are second in the French women’s top-flight, just behind Lyon.
Paris FC, however, are in a tight race for the French Ligue 2 title after securing the promotion to the top-flight since 1979 and their women’s team, newly-crowned Coupe de France Feminine champions, are in third position in the French women’s top-flight.
