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.
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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.
Source: Channels TV
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