Brighton & Nigeria's Sensation Dominates WSL Rankings, Outshining Chelsea and Man Utd Keepers!

Super Falcons shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie has concluded a remarkable debut season in England, earning the prestigious title of the Barclays Women's Super League's (WSL) 'save queen' for the 2025/2026 campaign. Joining Brighton & Hove Albion on a free transfer from French club Paris FC in July 2025, Nnadozie quickly established herself as a formidable presence between the posts, achieving the highest save percentage in the division.

Official league statistics confirm Nnadozie's outstanding performance, highlighting her 74.7% save percentage. This figure stood as the best among all goalkeepers who made at least ten league appearances throughout the season. Her exceptional form saw her narrowly outperform Chelsea's Hannah Hampton, who secured second place with 74.6%, and Manchester United's Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who finished third with 73.6%.

During her inaugural WSL campaign, the 24-year-old Nigerian international demonstrated incredible resilience and skill. Across 19 league matches, she faced a total of 83 shots on target, successfully stopping 62 of those efforts. This impressive record solidified her position as one of England's most reliable goalkeepers, even while navigating her first season in one of the world's most competitive women's football leagues. Nnadozie’s performances were crucial in helping Brighton maintain competitiveness against the league’s strongest clubs. She recorded six clean sheets and is estimated to have prevented 3.3 goals, a testament to her ability to execute difficult saves and keep her team in contention.

Nnadozie's individual brilliance was recognized early in the season when she clinched the WSL Save of the Month award for a stunning fingertip stop against Liverpool. This memorable moment also earned her a well-deserved place on the shortlist for the coveted league's Save of the Season award.

Beyond the individual statistics, Nnadozie's first year at Brighton under head coach Dario Vidosic was marked by significant team contributions. She swiftly became the club's undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, starting 19 of Brighton's 22 league matches and accumulating 1,710 minutes on the pitch. Her commanding displays at the back were instrumental in Brighton's impressive season, which included a historic run to the club's first-ever Women's FA Cup final. Although Brighton suffered a narrow defeat to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on May 3, Nnadozie delivered another outstanding performance, making six crucial saves.

Consistently competing against England's top clubs week after week, Nnadozie also finished the league season with the joint fourth-highest number of clean sheets. This remarkable club success built upon an already decorated year for the Nigerian goalkeeper, who was previously named CAF African Women's Goalkeeper of the Year for a record third consecutive time and placed fourth in the voting for the prestigious Yashin Trophy, an award recognizing the world's best goalkeeper.

Having established her prowess in the Women's Super League, Nnadozie has now transitioned her focus from club football to international duties. She has joined the Super Falcons in Morocco, where the Nigerian national team is preparing for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The shot-stopper will undoubtedly aim to carry her excellent form into the continental tournament, as Nigeria seeks to secure a record-extending eleventh African title.