Ballon d’Or 2025 Award: Only Two Nigerians Get Nominations

Only two Nigerians have been named in the Ballon d’Or 2025 nomination shortlists released on Thursday.

They are the Super Falcons duo of goalkeeper Nnadozie Chiamaka and coach Justine Madugu.

Chiamaka, who recently secured a move from Paris FC to Brighton, has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy.

The 24-year-old will battle Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, and Daphne van Domselaar for the award.

Madugu, who led the team to a record-extending 10th Women’s African Cup of Nations last month, makes the cut for Women’s Team Coach of the Year.

He is the only man in the shortlist, as will be up against Renée Slegers, Sarina Wiegman, Sonia Bompastor and Arthur Elias.

Ademola Lookman, who plays for Atalanta in Serie A, was the only Nigerian to be nominated across all categories.