Chelle missing as FIFA releases 2025 awards voters

Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was notably absent as FIFA released the official list of voters for the 2025 Best FIFA Football Awards, despite extensive Nigerian involvement across voting and expert panels, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was Nigeria’s sole nominee across the 11 award categories, earning recognition for her performances with Brighton, Paris FC, and the Super Falcons.

Nigerians, however, featured prominently in the decision-making process as captains, coaches, media representatives and members of FIFA’s expert panels.

Nnadozie was shortlisted for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s 11 following a standout season.

She played a decisive role as Paris FC stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final, keeping a clean sheet before saving two penalties in the shootout. At the international level, she recorded four clean sheets in six matches as Nigeria defeated Morocco in Rabat to reclaim the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

Despite those heroics, Nnadozie finished joint-last in voting for The Best FIFA Women’s 11, with her and 17 other goalkeepers failing to receive a vote in a category won by England’s Hannah Hampton. Hampton also claimed The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award, finishing ahead of Spain’s Cata Coll.

In the men’s best player category, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong voted for Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi and Lamine Yamal, while Nigeria’s media representative Oluwashina Okeleji selected Dembélé, Hakimi and Mohamed Salah.

For the women’s best player award, Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade voted for Temwa Chawinga, Aitana Bonmatí, and Melchie Dumornay. Nigeria’s women’s head coach, Justine Madugu, chose Aitana Bonmatí, Alessia Russo, and Lucy Bronze, while Okeleji voted for Bonmatí, Russo and Chawinga.

In the men’s goalkeeper category, Troost-Ekong voted for Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manuel Neuer, and Alisson Becker, while Okeleji selected Donnarumma, Raya, and Thibaut Courtois.

For the women’s goalkeeper award, Ajibade voted for Nnadozie and Hampton, with Madugu and Okeleji also naming Nnadozie and Hampton in their ballots.

Beyond Nigeria, Nnadozie received votes from captains, coaches, and media representatives in 238 countries worldwide that placed her fourth behind Hampton, Spain’s Cata Coll, and Chile’s Christiane Endler.

In the women’s coach category, Ajibade and Madugu voted for Renée Slegers, Sonia Bompastor and Sarina Wiegman, while Okeleji voted for Wiegman, Bompastor and Seb Hines.

For the men’s coach award, Troost-Ekong and Okeleji both voted for Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick and Arne Slot. Across all categories, Chelle was the only Nigerian voter missing, leaving Troost-Ekong and Okeleji as Nigeria’s sole representatives in the men’s sections.

Beyond voting, Nigerians were also involved in FIFA’s expert panels responsible for shortlisting nominees.

Cinthya Uwak served on the panel for the women’s player, coach and goalkeeper awards, Yewande Balogun was part of the panel for the FIFA Marta Award for best women’s goal, Perpetua Nkwocha contributed to the selection of The Best FIFA Women’s 11, Sunday Oliseh was involved in shortlisting The Best FIFA Men’s 11, while Mercy Akide served on the panel for the FIFA Fair Play Award.

The Best FIFA Football Awards was held on Tuesday and covered performances between August 11, 2024 and August 2, 2025. Voting opened on November 6, 2025 and closed on November 28, 2025.

Winners included Bonmatí as The Best FIFA Women’s Player, Dembélé as The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Hampton as The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and Gianluigi Donnarumma as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.