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NFF reacts to Randy Waldrum’s frustration allegation ahead of Women’s World Cup
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has replied Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum for his unguarded statement on allegations of frustration in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Waldrum, had in an interview with US based journalist on Sounding Off on Soccer podcast complained about the NFF interference and lack of proper preparations among other allegations.
However, in a swift response, NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire, while responding Waldrum’s claims, insists that the Nigeria FA refused a two-week camping for home-based, having known the American do not have them in his plans.
“We have to first ask when the European season ended. The man wanted a two-week camping for only home-based professionals (whom he already gave very little consideration in his provisional list),” Olajire told NigeriaFootball.ng.
“Like two weeks ago, he released his final list of 23, meaning there was absolutely no need for any camping for home-based again except to simply waste resources. Instead of admitting his glaring deficiencies, he’s there shooting his mouth off.
“He knows he will not have Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde (two key players) for the opening match against Canada, yet he left out Ngozi Okobi and Regina Otu from the squad. The NFF felt it would make more sense for the 23 to go straight to Australia and camp for 15/16 days acclimatizing to the weather and conditions.”
The University of Pittsburgh coach also alleged that NFF wanted him to include a home-based player for the Word Cup which he didn’t oblige, forcing the Federation retaliation to drop his assistant, Lauren Gregg for the World Cup.
In his response, Olajire: “The NFF wanted him to groom a home-based goal tender like Chiamaka Nnadozie was groomed. Instead, he kept bringing Yewande Balogun (who actually started as a goalkeeper coach!) all the time without consideration for a home girl.
“The same lady has only kept goal in one friendly match in over 2 years (and only because Chiamaka was badly injured in a friendly in Mexico earlier this year). His outbursts are nothing but an afterthought. He’s talking only three days to the team’s departure to the World Cup.
“You’re saying that you don’t know any home-based goalkeeper but you could pick players like Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, and Deborah Abiodun who had home-based goalkeepers with them at the same U20 World Cup, where you spotted them.
“There is no need to say more. The Women’s World Cup is around the corner and he should simply concentrate on the task at hand.”
On Sunday, the nine-time African champions will depart the shores of Nigeria for a 15-day camping programme in Australia, before they enter into camp for the tournament proper, with their base at Brisbane – which is also venue for two of their matches in the group phase.
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