Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news as they happen

    What's Hot

    Without urgent debt settlement, power sector will collapse – Adelabu 

    July 29, 2025

    Dangote Cement posts N311bn Q2 profit

    July 29, 2025

    Airtel Nigeria revenue jumps 30% on data surge

    July 29, 2025
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Megastar Magazine
    • Politics

      SDP places ban on El-Rufai for 30 years

      July 28, 2025

      LG Election: Sanwo-Olu swears in LG chairmen, vc

      July 28, 2025

      New APC Chairman: Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Nentawe Yiltwada takes charge as leader

      July 24, 2025

      APC to hold NEC meeting in Presidential Villa, appoint new Chairman

      July 23, 2025

      Igbinedion Wins APC Ovia Bye-election’s Ticket, Heads for House of Representative

      July 20, 2025
    • Entertainment
      1. People
      2. Events
      3. Fashion
      Featured
      News July 25, 2025

      Miss Tourism Africa and Mister Tourism International 2025 to hold in Plateau

      Recent

      Miss Tourism Africa and Mister Tourism International 2025 to hold in Plateau

      July 25, 2025

      Kaduna Film Festival’s 8th edition with purpose of being change agent

      July 25, 2025

      Spotify: Wizkid emerges first African artist to reach 9 billion streams      

      July 25, 2025
    • Business

      Dangote Cement posts N311bn Q2 profit

      July 29, 2025

      Airtel Nigeria revenue jumps 30% on data surge

      July 29, 2025

      The Alternative Bank Leads 300-Strong March to Combat Plastic Pollution in Lagos

      July 28, 2025

      Tinubu, a Listening Leader with Policies in Favour of Private Sector — Dangote

      July 28, 2025

      Union Bank Rewards Customers with ₦5 Million Each in Save and Win Palli Promo Season 4 Grand Finale

      July 28, 2025
    • Health

      LASEPA, UNIDO, Japan govt unite to train food vendors, waste workers in Ikorodu to fight epidemic

      July 26, 2025

      JDPC sets up Trauma Centre for victims of attacks in Plateau

      July 16, 2025

      Healthcare centre named after Remi Tinubu in Lagos

      July 11, 2025

      First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu inaugurates 30-bed Primary Health Centre in Lagos

      July 10, 2025

      Sterling Bank recognised for 2025 Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards

      July 4, 2025
    • Culture

      Rite Foods Powers Ojude Oba Festival, Adds Colour to its Festivities, Reinvigorates Participants with Its Award-winning Brands

      June 11, 2025

      Glo Celebrates 20-Years Of Showcasing Ojude Oba To The World With Gifts Of Cars, Tricycles And More

      June 9, 2025

      House Of Adron Illuminates Ojude Oba Festival With Grandeur, Honours Awujale Of Ijebuland

      June 8, 2025

      Ijebu Ode aglow with grandeur, culture at Ojude Oba festival

      June 8, 2025

      2025 Durbar Festival: Crowd gather in Ilorin to celebrate in grand style

      June 8, 2025
    • Lifestyle

      TOOF Champions a Defining Moment for Nigerian Art at Old Masters by Future Masters Exhibition

      July 23, 2025

      What Would an African SDG Treaty Look Like?

      July 21, 2025

      Golden Jubilee: Makinde lauds Alaafin at 50th celebration

      July 17, 2025

      Beware: Almost got Initiated into witchcraft on internet – Olayode

      July 16, 2025

      Destiny, Endurance and Victory of Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland

      July 15, 2025
    • Sports

      Morocco Reports Nigeria To CAF Saying 2 Super Falcons Players Are Strangers

      July 29, 2025

      Tinubu expresses delight with cash equivalent to 100000 USD, houses, national honour on Super Falcons

      July 28, 2025

      Tinubu expresses delight with cash quivalent of 100,000 USD, houses, national honour on Super Falcons

      July 28, 2025

      Super Falcons arrive Aso Villa after historic WAFCON win

      July 28, 2025

      I love staying close to people naturally – Osimhen

      July 28, 2025
    • Contact
    YouTube Facebook Instagram WhatsApp
    Megastar Magazine
    Home»Sports»How Nnadozie, Falcons Goalkeeper achieve her breakthrough, paying N10,000 only
    Sports

    How Nnadozie, Falcons Goalkeeper achieve her breakthrough, paying N10,000 only

    Ifetayo AdeniyiBy Ifetayo AdeniyiJune 1, 20249 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email Telegram
    Share
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Email

    How Nnadozie, Falcons Goalkeeper achieve her breakthrough, paying N10,000 only

    The Super Falcons have finally qualified for the Olympics. It’s your first time in the Games, so you should feel excited about the prospect of showcasing your abilities on the world stage once again.

    It’s an amazing feeling that we were able to make it. I have always dreamt about playing in the Olympics and finally, we have been able to achieve this. I am really happy that the Games are being held in France. France is like a home away from home for me, and I’m delighted that the tournament is taking place there. I really want to play in it, in my adopted country and city. Paris is an incredible place; it’s so beautiful, and the people are great. I feel so at home there. Sometimes I even feel like I’m back in Nigeria because everything I need is there. You have had an impressive career so far, much like many successful footballers. Can you share some of the challenges you faced before reaching this level? When I was growing up, there were a few things that really disturbed me while playing. One of them was the challenge of providing my own football equipment like shoes, gloves, and jerseys because the club or academy didn’t provide them. I had to buy everything myself, and sometimes I had to play barefoot or with bare hands because it was difficult to get the necessary gear. Secondly, food was also a problem during my academy days. Sponsors didn’t provide food, so we had to walk around begging for food on the streets or ask friends and fans for money to buy food. Sometimes we could only afford cheap meals at local restaurants. These were the most difficult challenges I faced while playing and growing up in Nigeria. I kept on going because of my dad, you know. At one point, he was convinced that I would never succeed in life.

    He had already decided that I would amount to nothing. Considering our background, I came from a very poor family. I know it’s tough to admit, but I have to be honest. Seeing my mom’s hardships, our struggles to put food on the table, and many other challenges, I realized that people were making a living from playing football. I’ve witnessed individuals becoming successful because of football, and that became my motivation. Even when my dad kicked me out of the house for not wanting to learn a trade or work, I continued to motivate myself, using him as my inspiration. I gave myself a deadline – I told myself that if nothing came of my football career by the time I turned 20, I go back to my dad, apologize, and ask for his forgiveness. I was ready to start working then because going to university was never an option due to our financial situation, even though I had completed my secondary education. By the grace of God, I received my first call-up to the under-17 team. This was a significant breakthrough for me. When my dad saw me on television, he was overjoyed and called me back home, saying I was his daughter after all. So I think he was really the one that made me push so hard to get to this point because I really want to prove to him that girls do play football and you can become someone in life by playing football.

    Impressive! You should feel bad towards your dad for sending you out of the house for choosing football…

    To be honest, I understand that my father was trying to help me become a better person through football. He had played himself, but nothing came out of it. My older brother played as well, with no success. Even my cousin’s sister is a footballer, and I played with her, but nothing came of it. My father would often say that football leads to nothing, and although I didn’t initially appreciate his approach, I eventually realized that he was trying to bring out the best in me. I even joked with my mom, asking if he was really my father, but she confirmed it. I just took it as his way of wanting the best for me. I didn’t take it too hard. Yeah, I understand him.

    Your journey to greatness began in the Nigerian league with Rivers Angels. How did you make your way to that great club?

    I have always dreamt of playing for Rivers Angels; at one point, I was even willing to pay someone to help me achieve this dream. Someone promised to take me to Rivers Angels if I paid her. She asked my family for 10,000 Naira to make it happen. My mom was trying to gather the money to give to her. Fortunately, there was a competition called Airtel Rising Stars hosted in Port Harcourt. My friend invited me to play for her team, and despite my usual reluctance, I went. It was my first time in Port Harcourt, and I didn’t even know that Rivers Angels was based there. I didn’t know much about Rivers Angels, but I admired the success they brought to Nigerian football. After the competition, I was named the best goalkeeper in front of the team manager and the coaches. They invited me to the Rivers Angels camp, and I was surrounded by many talented players. When they offered me my first contract, it felt like a dream come true. I was overjoyed and excited, although also a bit scared, being a young girl. I think I was 15 or 16 when I signed with Rivers Angels. Many people discouraged me, saying I was too young and that Rivers Angels already had many talented goalkeepers. Despite the discouragement, I was thrilled. I called my mom to share the news that I was now a professional footballer in Nigeria and would be getting paid. It was a dream come true, and I couldn’t believe how everything had unfolded.

    There was a story that you didn’t even start your career as a goalkeeper, how true is this?

    I’ve been a player since childhood. I’ve always been playing. All those stories I told you, happened when I was still playing. It was 2012, and I was a very good player, a top striker. I was fast. Even now, I’m still fast. When I was with River Angels, I was the fastest player in River Saint-Georges. You can ask the coach to confirm this. I have a lot of skills that people don’t know about because I’m always in goal. I’m skilful. I can play like a field player and do anything. In 2012, at my academy in Owerri, we were playing a game against the boys and we were losing 11-2. Our goalkeeper was exhausted and was the only one who came to the game that day. So, I asked the coach if I could help her. He thought I was confused, asking if I was a player or a goalkeeper. I told him that when I played with my big brothers in the village, they always put me in goal because I wasn’t as strong as them, and they didn’t want to injure me. So, I had some experience. The coach agreed to let me try. I went in for the last two minutes and made two good saves. After the match, the coach was impressed. He called me the next day and said he saw something special in me and wanted to convert me into a goalkeeper. At first, I resisted because I was one of the best players on the team. He gave me an ultimatum: if I accepted, I would be on the team for the 2012 festival; if not, he would drop me for senior players. I felt he was being sentimental, but he insisted he wanted to help me. I cried, but my friends advised me to give it a try. So, the next day, I started as a goalkeeper, playing with bare hands and barefoot. That’s how I began my journey as a goalkeeper. Sometimes, I regret not continuing as a field player when I see others scoring. I wonder where I would have been if I had kept playing.

    In the 2019 World Cup, you were very young and no one expected you to play, but you ended up breaking a record as the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the history of the tournament….

    I never believed such moments would happen in my life. You know, in the Super Falcons, we have so many big goalkeepers. I’m just the smallest, but I made the 23-man list for the World Cup and had the opportunity to play, which was great for me. During the game, the coach wanted to sub for me, but something happened. The first back pass they gave me, I dribbled, and the coach was scared. He told me to stop dribbling. When they gave me the second back pass, I did the same thing and almost lost the ball. The coach then decided to make a substitution and told me to warm up. I heard him say that he was changing me right away, but maybe some of the other coaches spoke to him and convinced him to leave me on. I was lucky to keep a clean sheet and break a very big record. It made me feel so great and special. Even today, remembering those records keeps motivating me to believe that I can do more.

    You have achieved so much there will still be some grounds you hope to conquer, can you share them with us?

    There are so many things I want to achieve in my career, but I have two big dreams. Firstly, I want to win a league title with my club. Secondly, I want to win a world trophy with Nigeria, not just an African trophy. I’ve already won African trophies for Nigeria a few times, so I mean a world trophy, like the Olympics or the World Cup. Achieving these two things would mean a lot to me. Once I’ve accomplished these goals, I think I’ll be satisfied, but these are my main ambitions. Winning a trophy with my team and winning a world trophy with Nigeria are my top priorities. I truly believe we can do it. I have a lot of faith in my team. Do the right thing, even when nobody’s watching you. For example, some footballers, maybe if they’re in personal training, cheat because nobody’s watching them. And they think maybe they are cheating on those who gave them the training programme.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleGov of Osun gives order for singing of new National Anthem in schools
    Next Article Creativity as Glo-sponsored CNN African Voices spotlight Nigerian designers
    Ifetayo Adeniyi
    • Website

    Adeniyi Ifetayo Moses is an Entrepreneur, Award winning Celebrity journalist, Luxury and Lifestyle Reporter with Ben tv London and Publisher, Megastar Magazine. He has carved a niche for himself with over 15 years of experience in celebrity Journalism and Media PR.

    Related Posts

    Sports July 29, 2025

    Morocco Reports Nigeria To CAF Saying 2 Super Falcons Players Are Strangers

    Sports July 28, 2025

    Tinubu expresses delight with cash equivalent to 100000 USD, houses, national honour on Super Falcons

    Sports July 28, 2025

    Tinubu expresses delight with cash quivalent of 100,000 USD, houses, national honour on Super Falcons

    Sports July 28, 2025

    Super Falcons arrive Aso Villa after historic WAFCON win

    Sports July 28, 2025

    I love staying close to people naturally – Osimhen

    Sports July 28, 2025

    Euro 2025: England’s remarkable victory presents triumph for ‘incredible’ Wiegman

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Don't Miss
    News July 29, 2025

    Without urgent debt settlement, power sector will collapse – Adelabu 

    Without urgent debt settlement, power sector will collapse – Adelabu File photo of the Minister…

    Dangote Cement posts N311bn Q2 profit

    July 29, 2025

    Airtel Nigeria revenue jumps 30% on data surge

    July 29, 2025

    Morocco Reports Nigeria To CAF Saying 2 Super Falcons Players Are Strangers

    July 29, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news as they happen

    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    About Us
    About Us

    We are Multimedia company that specializes in Events Coverage and Planning, Media Publicity, Publishing, Awards and Outsourcing in giving styles to your event and creating brand visibility for your products and services.

    Email Us: officialmegastarmagazine@gmail.com
    Contact: +234 705 311 1111

    Our Picks

    Without urgent debt settlement, power sector will collapse – Adelabu 

    July 29, 2025

    Dangote Cement posts N311bn Q2 profit

    July 29, 2025

    Airtel Nigeria revenue jumps 30% on data surge

    July 29, 2025
    New Comments
    • Anozie okolo on Supreme Court Affirms President Tinubu’s Victory As Atiku, Peter Obi Lose
    • Mc richman on Nigeria and South African Music histories
    • Moses Ibrahim on Olu of Warri: Pictorial @ The Ogiame Atuwatse III Economic Summit.
    • Sen Rich Kay on MALARIA ERADICATION: Prince Ned Nwoko & NMEP Meet for joint action.
    Megastar Magazine
    YouTube Facebook WhatsApp Instagram
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    © 2025 Megastar Magazine. Designed by MANNDI

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.