Four members of the Nigerian women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, have been included in The Guardian’s prestigious annual ranking of the world’s top 100 female footballers for 2025.
This achievement underscores the significant impact Nigerian talent is making on the global stage.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and forward Rasheedat Ajibade lead the Nigerian contingent, with Nnadozie returning to the list and ranking at 65th globally. The other two players making their debut appearances in the esteemed ranking are forwards Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo.
Nnadozie’s inclusion comes after a stellar season that saw her secure 11 clean sheets for Paris FC, which led to her recent transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League. Her consistent performance has established her as one of the world’s elite shot-stoppers.
The rankings, determined by a global panel of experts including players, coaches, and journalists, continue a strong trend for Nigeria, which has had at least one player included in every edition since 2017.
In a separate ranking by the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory earlier in 2025, four Nigerian men’s players—Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Victor Osimhen, and Victor Boniface—were also noted among the top 300 most influential footballers for the 2024/25 season, based on their statistical impact and performance for their respective clubs.
