When a team needs one big save, everyone looks at the goalkeeper.
A strong goalkeeper can keep a team alive when the attack is not clicking. She can calm defenders, stop a penalty, or make one quick save that changes the whole match.
African women’s football has plenty of goalkeepers doing that right now. Some have played at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Others stood out at WAFCON 2026, while a few are pushing for their biggest international chance.
So, who are the female goalkeepers in Africa you should know?
This list looks at 17 of the best female goalkeepers in African football right now.
1) Michaely Bihina, Cameroon
Michaely Bihina has moved quickly from a promising goalkeeper to one of the biggest names in African women’s football today.
At WAFCON 2026, she made nine saves in Cameroon’s quarter-final win over Nigeria. She then made three saves against Morocco before stopping three penalties in the shootout.
Cameroon won the final 3- 0, and Bihina finished with the Golden Glove and a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Her recent performances put her among the top female goalkeepers in Africa. She also has another huge stage ahead because Cameroon has qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Bihina now plays for Benfica, giving her another strong club platform as she continues to grow.
2) Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nigeria
Chiamaka Nnadozie remains one of the biggest names in African women’s football.
She has won the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award three times in 2023, 2024, and 2025. She also won the Golden Glove at WAFCON 2025 after helping Nigeria win the title.
Her World Cup 2026 campaign was more difficult. Nigeria lost 3- 2 to Malawi in the group stage, beat Zambia and Egypt, then fell 1- 0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
Nnadozie later started the World Cup play-off against South Africa, but Nigeria lost 2- 1.
At club level, she moved to Brighton & Hove Albion and has continued to face strong WSL opposition. This puts Chiamaka among the female goalkeepers in Africa on a major European stage.
She made five saves against Arsenal on the opening day of the 2026/27 season.
Unfortunately, Nigeria failed to qualify for Brazil 2027, so we will not get to see Nnadozie’s performances on this big women’s soccer stage.
3) Khadija Er Rmichi, Morocco
Khadija Er Rmichi has been one of Africa’s most reliable goalkeepers for years, and WAFCON 2026 added more proof.
She started every match for Morocco. Morocco beat Kenya, Algeria and Senegal, then defeated South Africa 2- 1 in the quarter-finals.
Morocco’s run ended in the semi-finals after a 0- 0 draw with Cameroon. Er Rmichi played the full 120 minutes, but Cameroon won the penalty shootout 3- 1. Morocco later lost to Algeria on penalties in the third-place match.
Er Rmichi helped Morocco reach the last four and be among the 18 women’s soccer teams already qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. She has also won the CAF Women’s Champions League with AS FAR and remains one of the most experienced female goalkeepers in Africa.
4) Andile Dlamini, South Africa
Andile Dlamini brings experience, calm, and a long record at the top level. Dlamini’s experience still keeps her high on any list of the female goalkeepers in Africa.
She has been a key goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns and Banyana Banyana. In August 2026, she won the Golden Glove at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier as Sundowns went unbeaten and booked a place in the continental finals.
She was also part of South Africa’s 2022 WAFCON-winning team and their 2023 World Cup squad.
At WAFCON 2026, Dlamini began as South Africa’s main goalkeeper during preparations, but Kaylin Swart started the tournament.
South Africa lost 2- 1 to Morocco in the quarter-finals. They then beat Nigeria 2- 1 in the World Cup playoff, keeping their Brazil 2027 hopes alive.
South Africa will enter the FIFA World Cup playoff tournament in November, so Dlamini still has a possible route back to the biggest stage.
5) Chloé N’Gazi, Algeria
Chloé N’Gazi was one of the standout goalkeepers at WAFCON 2026.
She started all six matches for Algeria as the team reached the semi-finals for the first time. Algeria conceded only once in regular time across the group stage and quarter-final before losing 3- 1 to Malawi in the semi-final.
N’Gazi also helped Algeria beat Côte d’Ivoire 2- 1 in the quarter-final. The team later won the bronze medal by beating Morocco on penalties after a 1- 1 draw.
It was Algeria’s first WAFCON podium finish and secured their place at the 2027 World Cup.
With those performances, N’Gazi has made a strong case among the female goalkeepers in Africa. She is also playing club football in France with Fleury.
6) Kaylin Swart, South Africa
Kaylin Swart has quietly built one of the strongest international records among South African goalkeepers.
She was part of the Banyana Banyana team at the 2019 and 2023 Women’s World Cups. She also started three WAFCON 2026 matches, keeping a clean sheet against Burkina Faso.
Her biggest moment came in the World Cup playoff against Nigeria. South Africa won 2- 1, with Swart making the difference in a match that kept the team in the race for Brazil.
Her tournament experience gives her real value.
7) Cynthia Konlan, Ghana
Cynthia Konlan had a busy WAFCON 2026.
She started all four of Ghana’s group and quarter-final matches. Ghana opened with a 2- 0 win over Cape Verde, lost 1- 0 to Cameroon, drew 1- 1 with Mali, and then lost 2- 1 to Malawi in the quarter-finals.
Konlan still helped Ghana reach the World Cup playoff path. Ghana then beat Côte d’Ivoire 2- 1, keeping their Brazil hopes alive.
She was also a CAF 2025 Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year nominee. Her recent performances make her one of the female goalkeepers in Africa gaining attention.
8) Habiba Emad Sabry, Egypt
Habiba Emad Sabry is one of the younger African women goalkeepers on this list.
She was named among the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year nominees in 2025 after strong performances for FC Masar. The club has given her African club experience.
At WAFCON 2026, Sabry started Egypt’s final group match against Nigeria. Egypt lost 6- 2, which was a tough night for the young goalkeeper, but the experience came against one of Africa’s strongest attacks.
She is still developing, so her place here is about both what she has shown and where she can go next. Sabry is one of the younger names with room to climb. Her ceiling remains high.
9) Fatoumata Karantao, Mali
Fatoumata Karantao has given Mali a goalkeeper who can deliver at club level.
She plays for USFAS Bamako and was named the best goalkeeper of the 2026 Mali Women’s Cup after USFAS won the trophy with a 2- 0 victory over Amazone CV.
She was also nominated for the 2025 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Mali did not reach the quarter-finals. Karantao’s club performances still give her a strong case among the female goalkeepers in Africa. She’s among those you should keep an eye out for beyond the national team performance.
10) Adji Ndiaye, Senegal
Adji Ndiaye is one of the youngest goalkeepers here, and she has already gained useful senior tournament experience.
She started Senegal’s 1- 0 win over Kenya at WAFCON 2026 and kept a clean sheet. She also started the 0- 0 draw with Morocco.
Ndiaye was named among the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year nominees in 2025. She was also a finalist for the CAF Young Women’s Player of the Year award.
Senegal did not qualify for the 2027 World Cup, but Ndiaye’s age gives her time to build towards the next cycle. Adji is another African goalkeeper to watch in the coming years.
11) Sedilame Boseja, Botswana
Sedilame Boseja has continued to build her reputation through Mamelodi Sundowns.
She joined the club in 2021 and has competed alongside Andile Dlamini at one of Africa’s strongest women’s clubs.
Boseja was also nominated for the 2025 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Botswana did not qualify for WAFCON 2026. Still, her performance keeps her among the female goalkeepers in Africa worth following right now.
12) Fideline Ndoy, DR Congo
Fideline Ndoy was part of TP Mazembe’s historic rise in African club football.
TP Mazembe won the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2024, becoming the first club from DR Congo to lift the trophy. Ndoy was part of that squad.
She was nominated for the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2024 and 2025.
DR Congo did not make the 2026 WAFCON field, so Ndoy missed that tournament.
Even so, her continental club experience keeps her among the female goalkeepers in Africa who have already proved themselves on a big stage today.
13) Monle Oyono, Nigeria
Monle Oyono is among African young soccer girls who have refused to quit soccer, and now building her senior career, but she has already had important club experience in Nigeria.
She has played for Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens and was nominated for the 2024 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
That recognition came through Nigerian club football.
Oyono did not make Nigeria’s final WAFCON 2026 picture, but she remains a goalkeeper to watch. If her club form improves, she could push back into the national team group.
Her career is still moving forward.
14) Catherine Musonda, Zambia
Catherine Musonda has been part of Zambia’s senior national team setup and has gained experience during a period when the Copper Queens have become regular contenders in African football.
She was nominated for the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2024.
At WAFCON 2026, Zambia exited in the group stage after finishing behind Malawi and Nigeria. Musonda did not get the same tournament spotlight as some of the other goalkeepers on this list.
Still, her international experience and previous CAF recognition keep her worth tracking.
15) Fatima El Jebraoui, Morocco
Fatima El Jebraoui is another Moroccan goalkeeper competing for attention behind Er Rmichi.
She was nominated for the 2024 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award while playing for Wydad Athletic Club.
Morocco’s strong run in 2026 gave El Jebraoui an important national team environment, even though Er Rmichi remained the first-choice goalkeeper.
With Morocco qualified for the 2027 World Cup, competition will continue.
16) Cathy Biya, Cameroon
Cathy Biya is another young Cameroonian goalkeeper who has already received CAF recognition.
She was nominated for the 2024 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Since then, Cameroon has gone on to win WAFCON 2026 with Michaely Bihina in goal.
Cameroon’s success gives Biya a strong environment to learn from.
She remains one to watch as Cameroon prepares for Brazil 2027.
17) Thandeka Ngcobo, South Africa
Thandeka Ngcobo is another South African goalkeeper who has received continental recognition.
She was nominated for the 2024 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award while playing for the University of the Western Cape.
South Africa’s deep goalkeeping group makes selection difficult. Dlamini and Swart have both held major international roles, but Ngcobo remains part of the wider pool.
She did not play at WAFCON 2026, but her previous CAF recognition gives her a place among the female goalkeepers in Africa to keep on the radar.
Final Whistle
The best female goalkeepers in Africa are not just names from the past. There are still new young African women goalkeepers rising to the national stage.
These female goalkeepers in Africa are shaping the next chapter of the women’s game, from WAFCON champions to young keepers waiting for their chance.
And with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 getting closer, there will be plenty more saves, clean sheets, and new names to watch. We remain to sit back and watch.
​
