NFF directs technical department to open contract extension talks with Randy Waldrum

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken a change in decision against parting ways with the coach of the women’s national team, Randy Waldrum.

On Sunday, the media had reported that the NFF Executive committee decided not take extend the contract of the coach following its communique.

However, in a clarification statement, the NFF has mandated its technical department to open up a discussion with Waldrum in a bid to extend his contract on Tuesday.

“We have given the Technical Committee the go-ahead to hold talks with Randy Waldrum as we consider an extension of his current contract with the NFF,” NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said on Tuesday.

“They have to do this quickly as the team has a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying match next week.

“The man has done well by leading the team to an impressive outing at the FIFA World Cup.”

Waldrum steered the nine-time African champions to the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, with the Super Falcons unbeaten in regulation time in any of their four matches, before a penalty shootout defeat by England.

With the WAFCON Qualifiers against Sao Tome and Principe around the corner and the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers not far fetched, NFF has decided to negotiate with the University of Pittsburgh coach to avoid having backroom issues that might have a negative effect on the team’s performance.

In order to keep the momentum the team gathered at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it was imperative to continue with the coach which the Federation has decided to start contract extension negotiations.

Waldrum signed a two-year contract with Africa’s darling women’s team in 2021, during which he led them to qualify for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Down Under.