Chiamaka Nnadozie’s father didn’t want her to play soccer. Nigerian star defied him and made history

It wasn’t always plain sailing for Paris FC and Nigerian goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, throughout her now-flourishing career.

Growing up in a family of boys and men – who had all tried their hand at going professional – Nnadozie’s ambition to follow suit wasn’t greeted with unyielding enthusiasm. Quite the opposite.

“It wasn’t very good from my family. They never let me play, especially my dad,” the 22-year-old told CNN’s Amanda Davies.

Ad Feedback

“Whenever I went to play soccer, he would always tell me: ‘Girls don’t play football. Look at me. I played football, I didn’t make it. Your brother, he played, he didn’t make. Your cousin played, he didn’t make it. So why do you want to choose this? Why don’t you want to go to school or maybe do some other things?’” Nnadozie recollected.

Despite the cynicism, Nnadozie continued to play football to fulfill her dream of playing for Nigeria. Her mother was instrumental in keeping that hope alive, often taking Nnadozie to her auntie’s house where she could play freely without refute.

It’s been a long, winding road from a small semi-urban town in Nigeria to the World Cup knockout stages. But for Nnadozie, it’s a journey looked back on with pride