National Teams
Okunwa Igunbo: Former International advocates for home based Super Falcons coach
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria international Okunwa Igunbo has emphasized the need to consider home-based coaches for the vacant head coach role of the Super Falcons.
Speaking on Brila FM, Igunbo stated that indigenous coaches possess the capability to lead the nine-time African champions effectively.
“We should go back to our drawing board to our indigenous coaches,” Igunbo said.
She acknowledged the efforts of former coach Randy Waldrum but noted, “He has been using a particular set of players. We have a lot of players in this country.”
She referenced the last Olympics, mentioning that “if not for the fire brigade preparation, we would have created an impact.”
Igunbo highlighted that Waldrum was the second foreign coach to manage the Super Falcons, following Thomas Denerby, who won the 2018 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and led the team to the Round of 16 at the World Cup the following year.
“We have indigenous coaches that can take up the Falcons job and make Nigeria proud,” he continued.
She urged a return to homegrown talent, stating, “In those days, it was indigenous coaches who took us to the quarter-finals at the World Cup. I remember the 1999 World Cup.”
Notably, eight of the nine WAFCON titles won by the Super Falcons were secured under indigenous coaches, with Denerby being the sole foreign coach to win the title.
Igunbo’s remarks come in light of Waldrum’s performance, which saw the team falter in the semi-finals to Morocco at the 2022 edition of the tournament.
