With less than three weeks to the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum are locked in a battle of words over the team’s preparations.
The Super Falcons camp for the global showpiece opened in Abuja this week, with the team scheduled for a farewell dinner on Saturday before departing for Australia on Sunday.
Waldrum who announced his 23-woman final list a fortnight ago, lamented the lack of support his team has endured and he concluded that the 11-time African champions are not prepared to take on the world.
“We were supposed to have a camp in Nigeria for some days before departing for Australia, but for whatever reason, the federation cancelled,” the American coach said on a podcast. “So I could not double-check the players or invite new legs into the team, so I have to just pick the final 23 players based on the last camp.
“I know we are not prepared the way we need to be. [I have] been very frustrated with the federation (NFF) and the lack of support we have got at different levels.”
The NFF through its Communications Director, Ademola Olajire responded and defended their rejection of Waldrum’s proposed training camp in Nigeria as a ‘waste of resources’ with the team set for a two-week camping in the co-host country of the Women’s World Cup, Australia.
Olajire said: “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).
“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 is there shooting his mouth off.
“He knows he will not have Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde (two key players) for the opener 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 acclimatising to the weather conditions.”
Olajire also criticised Waldrum for the inclusion of Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Yewande Balogun ahead of the plethora of options in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
“The NFF wanted him to groom a home-based goal tender like how Chiamaka Nnadozie was groomed,” he said. “Instead, he kept bringing Yewande Balogun (who started as a goalkeeper coach!) all the time without consideration for a home girl.
“The same lady has only kept goal in one friendly in over two years. His outbursts are nothing but an after-thought. He is talking only three days to the team’s departure to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Randy says he does not know any home-based goalkeeper but could pick likes of Tosin Demehin, Rodiat Imuran and Deborah Abiodun from the same U20 team.”
Nigeria are yet to confirm any friendly match ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup that starts on July 20, with their opening game fixed for July 21 against Canada.
You can watch all of the Super Falcons’ games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup LIVE on Afrosport TV (channel 730 on Free TV or stream online via VIDIVDU, starting from the opening match against Canada on July 21.
