Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle absent from Best FIFA Football Awards voters list despite strong Nigerian representation elsewhere.

Eric Chelle

Nigeria’s Eric Chelle misses out as FIFA publishes its official list of voters for the 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards, despite significant Nigerian involvement across voting and expert panels.

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was Nigeria’s only nominee among 11 award categories, recognized for her stellar performances with Brighton, Paris FC, and the Super Falcons. Nnadozie was shortlisted for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s 11 following a standout season.

At Paris FC, Nnadozie played a decisive role in the Coupe de France final, keeping a clean sheet and saving two penalties in the shootout. Internationally, she recorded four clean sheets in six matches as Nigeria defeated Morocco to reclaim the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

Despite her heroics, Nnadozie finished joint-last in voting for The Best FIFA Women’s 11, with 17 other goalkeepers also receiving no votes. The category was won by England’s Hannah Hampton, who also claimed the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award ahead of Spain’s Cata Coll.

Nigerians dominate FIFA voting and panels
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong voted for Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, and Lamine Yamal in the men’s best player category, while Nigeria’s media representative Oluwashina Okeleji chose Dembélé, Hakimi, and Mohamed Salah.

For the women’s awards, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade voted for Temwa Chawinga, Aitana Bonmatí, and Melchie Dumornay, while Nigeria’s women’s head coach Justine Madugu picked Bonmatí, Alessia Russo, and Lucy Bronze. Okeleji also voted in the women’s category.

In the goalkeeper categories, Troost-Ekong selected Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manuel Neuer, and Alisson Becker, while Okeleji picked Donnarumma, Raya, and Thibaut Courtois. For the women, Ajibade, Madugu, and Okeleji all voted for Nnadozie and Hampton.

Expert panels with Nigerian involvement
Nigerians also contributed heavily to FIFA’s expert panels, with Cinthya Uwak, Yewande Balogun, Perpetua Nkwocha, Sunday Oliseh, and Mercy Akide serving on panels for players, coaches, and awards shortlisting.

Chelle’s absence meant that Troost-Ekong and Okeleji were Nigeria’s sole representatives in the men’s voting sections. The Best FIFA Football Awards covered performances from August 11, 2024, to August 2, 2025. Winners included Aitana Bonmatí (Women’s Player), Ousmane Dembélé (Men’s Player), Hannah Hampton (Women’s Goalkeeper), and Gianluigi Donnarumma (Men’s Goalkeeper).