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Randy Waldrum, the former Super Falcons head coach, has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to explain how the $960, 000 it claims FIFA gave to all participating nations in October 2022 as preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Waldrum claimed in a viral video that Waldrum claimed the NFF failed to organize a proper pre-tournament training camp for the nine-time African champions despite receiving the grant.

“I have a very close relationship with some of the FIFA board here in the US.” Every nation was given $ 960,000 from FIFA to prepare for the World Cup in October, according to this person. What happened to that money?” he inquired.

Concerns With Logistics, Travel, and Staffing

Waldrum criticized how the team handled their Japan friendly in October 2022, calling the trip improperly organized and physically exhausting.

“We flew in, played the game, and then returned to Japan.” Some of our players didn’t arrive until the morning of the game. After spending 16 hours driving, five players who were going to start for me arrived the night before. The final five days of that window were wasted, he claimed.

The American also criticised the team’s size, claiming that only about 11 technical members could travel with Nigeria. FIFA only permits up to 22 technical personnel.

“I scout and don’t have an analyst.” In Europe, there is a scout in the US who monitors teams. No scouts accompany us on our trip to Australia. He lamented that everything I need to do is available online and on video.

There was no justification for poor travel arrangements or training camps, according to Waldrum, adding that FIFA supports business-class travel costs that are later discounted from federations’ prize money.

READ ALSO: Guardiola Charges With Playing Safe in Leverkusen Defeat?

Detailed Plans Before the World Cup

However, records revealed that the Super Falcons did participate in a number of tournament-related preparation activities. The team faced off against Mexico in February 2023 against the USA in August 2022, Japan in October 2022, and Mexico in international friendship.

The Falcons won victories over Haiti (2–1) and New Zealand (3–1) in a campfire in Turkey in April 2023.

From July 4 through July 11, they also traveled to Gold Coast, Australia, to play a friendly against Lions FC before moving to Brisbane to join the official FIFA camp.

Resilient World Cup Run by the Falcons

Despite Waldrum’s raised organizational problems, the Super Falcons put on one of their best World Cup appearances in recent memory.

They advanced to the Round of 16 after losing 4-2 on penalties to eventual finalists England after drawing 0-0 with Canada and Ireland, defeated co-hosts Australia 3-2 in a dramatic group game, and held Canada and Ireland to goalless draws.

In their surprise Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, Pep Guardiola accused his much-changed Manchester City team of “playing safe.”

The German side won 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday after the City manager made ten changes to his starting lineup.

Following last week’s Premier League defeat at Newcastle, Guardiola felt his players were too cautious.

He said, “We didn’t try,” in reference to the Leverkusen defeat. We didn’t try in football because you have to try things when you play on the green.

He continued, “I believe they played not to make mistakes, not to play to accomplish something because it’s so challenging. They played in a safe environment, so you have to play offensive and try.

Guardiola’s team faces struggling Leeds on Saturday, suggesting that the Leverkusen debutants had lost their self-assurance.

He said, “I have a lot of confidence in them, but I still have a lot right now.” “I value what they do as football players a lot more than what they do themselves,” he said.

Rodri is still out for the Leeds game, but Guardiola has confirmed that the Spanish international will be back soon.

In the Premier League, Guardiola’s men are currently third, seven points clear of Arsenal.

As his team prepares for Sunday’s game at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claims second-placed Chelsea “fully deserve” to be regarded as Premier League title contenders.

After 12 games this year, Arteta’s men are six points clear of second-placed Blues.

After winning 4-1 against arch-rivals Tottenham and 3-1 defeating German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the pair are now in good spirits.

Following three straight victories in the league and a thumping 3-0 victory over Barcelona on Tuesday, Chelsea’s tails are also up.

Chelsea’s youngster, under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, are still viewed as outsiders who want to win the Premier League.

Arteta, who won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup last year, does not, however, undervalue his opponents.

He told reporters on Friday, “I believe we are all there, and they (Chelsea) are there because they fully deserve to be.”

“What they have done over the past few years, I believe, is very, very positive and they deserve to be there,” he said. “The squad that they assembled, the numbers that they have, the quality that they have, the number of coaches they have, make sense.”

The former midfielder from Spain and Arsenal said he found watching Chelsea to be one of his favorite teams.

They are very clear about their goals, he said, and that is why they are very tough because of that. They have a lot of fluidity, a lot of threat, a lot of individual talent, and a lot of individual talent.

“It’s a big game, a big London derby, obviously.” We’re going to face a formidable adversary. We are fully prepared for it because they are in excellent form, and we are aware of the challenge and opportunity we have on Sunday.

Manager Ruben Amorim stated on Friday that Matheus Cunha will remain sidelined as Manchester United attempts to recover from a “really tough” week.

United ended a five-game unbeaten run that had raised the spirits at Old Trafford on Monday when they fell to 10-man Everton at home.

Cunha’s injury forced the Brazil forward to miss out on the team, which added to Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury and made him unavailable.

Both players will miss Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace, where Maguire, a veteran defender, will once more miss out.

According to United boss Amorim, “Sesko will take a little longer.” The same Harry. I’m not anticipating Matheus in this one, but the next one (on Thursday against West Ham). ”

United, who have lost their previous four Premier League games against Palace, have dealt a major blow with the absence of Cunha and Sesko.

After Idrissa Gana Gueye slapped teammate Michael Keane at home on Monday, Amorim’s side needs to get in the mood.

Amorim said, “The week was really tough, as it should be.” The process needs to continue, and we must move on to the next game, despite the difficult result and defeat.

Everything can change very quickly, especially in our league this year, so let’s go again and concentrate on the coming one. ”

United are aiming for their second straight home victory against a Palace side that has lost all 12 of their Premier League matches.

In both of their matches earlier this month, Amorim’s men blew leads over Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, drawing 2-2.

The Portuguese, who are 10th in the Premier League, said, “It’s hard to pinpoint one thing why we are not winning away.”

There are numerous issues. We are getting better, but we need to know how to win the games. ”

Iran will not play in the World Cup finals in Washington on Friday because the United States refused to grant visas to several delegation members, according to the Iranian football federation.

The Iranian delegation’s representatives informed FIFA that the decisions made were unrelated to sports and that they would not play in the World Cup draw, according to the federation’s spokesperson.

After a few frustrating nights in the Champions League, spanish champions Barcelona and current league leaders Real Madrid are looking to rekindle their resolve this weekend in La Liga.

The top two teams aim to defeat Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, who are currently in the lead, on Saturday when Barcelona hosts Alaves, while Madrid travel to Girona on Sunday.

Real Madrid’s defense wobbled alarmingly in also conceding three against Greek side Olympiacos, despite being able to claim a 4-3 victory thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe, while Barcelona suffered a morale-crushing 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.

Hansi Flick, a coach for Barca, was perplexed and looking for some hope after the humiliating defeat in London.

“I notice the intensity, quality, and intensity of our training. He told reporters that it is “absolutely different” from what it was six weeks ago.

“Players are returning, enhancing the level of training.” I feel optimistic and have a good feeling about that.

For the first time in 2025, Flick’s Barca didn’t score a goal in the Chelsea defeat.

Raphinha has started a few substitute games since returning from injury, and Alaves may get a bigger role when they travel to the newly reopened Camp Nou.

“You can see I’m happy that Raphinha is back, and Pedri will follow soon from injury, as you can see,” said Flick.

A 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last Saturday would help Barca’s first Camp Nou game in two and a half years, and a similar performance against Alaves would help patch up some gaps in the near future.

After losing points in both of their previous league games, including last weekend’s clash with promoted Elche, it would provably bring the champions of last season back to the top of La Liga.

After that disappointing 2-2 draw and 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano before the November international break, Alonso’s team now leads Barca at the top by one point.

After a subpar campaign start, Girona are 18th.

Real’s victory in Athens on Wednesday ended a three-game losing streak across all competitions thanks to superstar French striker Mbappe’s heroic run.

Alonso argued that a win was crucial for the team to regain its winning formula at Montilivi, which he hopes they can continue to build on.

Some Spanish reports suggest that the coach’s players, including winger Vinicius Junior, do not support him, which has raised questions about him.

The season will be long and demanding, the group says. “We are all united. There will be many different situations, but Alonso argued that the key is unity: having confidence in one another.

Watch out for Mikel Oyarzabal.

Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward, has been in excellent form recently, helping his team to rise to the top of the table after a poor start, and claiming to start as Spain’s starting striker at the World Cup in 2014. Villarreal’s top flight leader will make a Sunday appearance in San Sebastian to increase his La Real’s three goals and two assists in his previous four La Liga games.

Important statistics

Atletico Madrid has 12 league matches that are unbeaten.

Barcelona scored 53 games in a row before losing 3-0 to Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Alvaro Carreras, a Real Madrid defender, has 1125 touches on the ball, more than any other player in the league this season.

Fixtures

Friday (all times GMT)

Getafe v Elche (2000)

Saturday

Mallorca v Osasuna (1300), Barcelona v Alaves (1515), Levante v Athletic Bilbao (1730), Atletico Madrid v Real Oviedo (2000)

Sunday

Real Sociedad v Villarreal (1300), Sevilla v Real Betis (1515), Celta Vigo v Espanyol (1730), Girona v Real Madrid (2000)

Monday

Rayo Vallecano v. Valencia (2000)