NFF part ways with Randy Waldrum as Nigeria coach despite Women’s World Cup surge

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have parted ways with Randy Waldrum as the head coach of the country’s senior women’s national team despite guiding the Super Falcons to the knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, NigeriaFootball can authoritatively confirm.

In a shocking development, Ibrahim Gusau’s led board decided against extending the contract of the American gaffer following its executive meeting held at the Monty Hotel and Suites, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, 10th September, 2023.

“While commending the Super Falcons for an impressive outing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023, in which the team reached the Round of 16 and exited the tournament without losing a match in regulation period, the Board reiterated that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the momentum is maintained and even improved with adequate support and encouragement of women’s football in all ramifications,” the communique read.

“The Board resolved to be thorough and ensure meritocracy in the composition of new coaching crews for the various Women National Teams (Super Falcons, Falconets and Flamingos) within the shortest possible time, as the Super Falcons and Falconets have crucial qualifying fixtures for major championships in a matter of weeks.”

The 66-year-old tactician survived a pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup sack following backlash on his Nigerian employers but was allowed to finish the tournament task before a major decision can be taken on his future.

In separate podcasts, Waldrum took his employers to the cleaners, accusing the Nigerian FA of interfering with his team selection ahead of the Women’s World Cup, including imposing a home based goalkeeper on him.

Among many allegations against the Federation, Waldrum, who also doubles as the University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team head coach said the NFF didn’t allow Gregg the opportunity to work with him Down Under.

The straw that broke the back of the camel was a second podcast, where Waldrum challenged the Federation on misappropriation of funds in tune of $960,000 given to the country by FIFA to ensure the preparation of the team for the Women’s World Cup as well as being owed seven months salaries.

The back-to-back allegations saw the Nigerian FA leadership issued him a query and can be easily connected to the decision taken to part ways with him despite his recent showing  in Australia and New Zealand.

In August, Waldrum had told Punch Newspaper that his contract with the NFF will end in October this year won’t be in the dug out when the team faces Sao Tome and Principe in the 2024 WAFCON Qualifiers.

However, with the latest development, arising from Sunday’s executive committee meeting, the American coach, who replaced Thomas Dennerby following his appointment on October 5, 2020, will bid his Super Falcons job goodbye.

Under Waldrum’s tutelage, Nigeria witnessed its worst ever outing at the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the team finished fourth, suffering three losses in six games for the first time in its history.

The nine-time African champions won six of its ten competitive games and lost four others, three at the 2022 WAFCON and one against Ghana in the return leg of the WAFCON Qualifiers. In all competitions including friendly games, the Super Falcons won 11, drew four, and lost 13 of 28 games under the watch of Waldrum.

As it stands, Nigeria Football Federation is expected to name a replacement with less than two weeks to first round double header in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe this month.