Chiamaka Nnadozie, the fearless Nigerian goalkeeper, stood as the last line of defence and the beating heart of Paris FC Féminine, as they faced Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Coupe de France Féminine.
The game was a tense, relentless affair. PSG, the juggernaut of French women’s football, poured forward with waves of attack. Paris FC fought with everything they had, and time after time, it was Nnadozie who kept them alive. She flew to deny close-range shots, claimed crosses under pressure, and commanded her box with the poise of a warrior queen..
As the game finished 0-0 after extra time, the trophy would be decided from the spot. Nnadozie, unshaken, stared down her opponents with the calm of a player born for this moment.
She saved not one, but two penalties in the shootout, diving low to her left for the first, and then stunningly palming away another attempt destined for the bottom corner.
Paris FC’s bench exploded in celebration. The underdogs were on the brink of history.
When the final Paris FC penalty was converted, it was over.
5-4 on penalties. Paris FC were Coupe de France Féminine champions, for the first time ever..
Chiamaka Nnadozie, in just her fifth season in France, had won her first trophy with Paris FC. More importantly, she had delivered her club’s first-ever Coupe de France title.
Speaking after the match, an elated Nnadozie said.
“I’ve waited for this; We believed. And tonight, Paris is ours.”
