In the heart of Morocco at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), one name has quietly risen to continental prominence, Chloe N’Gazi.
The 29-year-old Algeria goalkeeper delivered a flawless group-stage campaign, keeping three clean sheets and registering the most saves in the tournament.
Her commanding performances earned her the accolade of Best Goalkeeper of the Group Stage, beating Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, the reigning African Goalkeeper of the Year.
But beyond the stats lies a compelling story of resilience, heritage, and relentless ambition.
Born in Meudon, France, N’Gazi’s journey has seen her develop through the ranks of elite French clubs such as PSG, Issy, Fleury, Orleans, and Le Havre before landing at Olympique de Marseille, where she currently plies her trade.
After enduring six months without game time last season, the Marseille shot-stopper stayed committed to her craft. That perseverance paid off spectacularly at WAFCON 2024, where she has become a central figure in Algeria’s rise.
“For me personally, I am happy because I work a lot. I had a hard season as I didn’t play for six months. Now, I am really happy; it’s a big achievement,” she told CAFOnline.com. “It is a big achievement also for the team. I think it is teamwork because my defenders help me a lot. Now we can dream of big things.”
Her standout moment came in the goalless draw against Nigeria, where she outshone the highly rated Nnadozie.
“I know last year she (Chiamaka) won the best goalkeeper award in Africa. She deserved it because she had a big season. For me, it’s good, I want to be the best goalkeeper in Africa. I think we have to prove that in competitions like WAFCON. I am really proud to get closer to Chiamaka,” N’Gazi added.
Although born and raised in France, N’Gazi proudly represents Algeria — a decision inspired by her family and cultural roots.
“My cousin, Lilia Boumrar, played for Algeria and told me about the love the people have for football. Since I came here, I know Algeria is a big country… It’s different from other countries because people are really counting on you. They really like soccer. You have to be good every time,” she explained.
The emotional connection runs deeper in Marseille, a city with a large Algerian community. “Even though we didn’t grow up there, that is where our ancestry comes from. That is really important for me because family and ancestry matter. That’s the roots. It’s important for Africa to grow. We have to come back from where we are from.”
“It’s not that hard because I play for Marseille. There are a lot of Algerian people there. Marseille and Algeria are kind of the same — supporters and fans are really hard on us. We need people counting on us and it’s a good pressure.”
Modeling her game after Germany’s legendary Manuel Neuer, N’Gazi has evolved into a modern goalkeeper; confident with her feet, calm under pressure, and constantly striving to improve.
“My first role model is Emmanuel Neuer because he changed goalkeeping for me. With him, we became more like a field player also,” she said.
“My personal ambition in this competition is to be nominated for the best goalkeeper. I want to keep growing because I know I am not there yet. Even if I’m 29 already, I’m getting to my best level.”
She also acknowledged the rise of other top African keepers, including Nnadozie, but remains focused on her path.
“There are lots of competitions in France and lots of keepers are getting better like Chiamaka Nnadozie at Paris FC. Trying to get to their level is important,” she said. “You can go up one day and then the next day go really low. You have to keep grounding every time. Believe in yourself because if you don’t, nobody is going to do it for you.”
Algeria head coach Farid Benstiti has full faith in N’Gazi, describing her as the heartbeat of his team’s defense and a crucial element of their ambitions.
“Chloe started slowly the first game but after that she came out very strong. She has the quality at the highest level because she is tall, dynamic and technically very good with the foot and hand. She is calm. We are very happy to have a good goalkeeper like Chloe,” Benstiti told CAFOnline.com.
“Chloe didn’t have too many important things to do but when it was at a time that we needed her, she was really efficient.”
He praised her synergy with the defensive unit, highlighting the importance of her leadership ahead of their quarter-final tie against Ghana.
“She is mature for now. Chloe helps the defenders and vice versa. They are friends, which is very important… The next step for the team depends on the grip — and about Chloe because Ghana will have opportunities.”
Benstiti added: “At this stage of the tournament, the goalkeeper is 50% of the team. We need Chloe at more than 100% of her quality to help the team win the quarterfinal.”
From enduring hardship to earning continental recognition, Chloe N’Gazi’s story is more than one of individual success — it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and pride for Algerian women’s football.
With her eyes fixed on pushing Algeria further in the tournament, N’Gazi remains committed to inspiring the next generation.
“We want to go as far as we can. With what we did and showed, I think it’s not just a dream now, we can really do it,” she said.
“CAF are doing great things in showing the games so that more people can see us play. It’s a great thing for African women’s football.
“Thank you for following us. We need you for the next game. We see all your comments and it’s helping us a lot. Please continue to cheer us.”
From group-stage MVP to Algeria’s pillar of hope, Chloe N’Gazi is not just defending a goal — she’s chasing greatness.