Super Falcons World Cup List Shows Waldrum Deficiency - NFF

Super Falcons World Cup List Shows Waldrum Deficiency - NFF

By Niyi Busari

The Nigeria Football Federation has said that the Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, displayed his glaring deficiencies in the list of players invited to participate in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, BSNSporys.com.ng reports.

The American tactician had in an outburst in the media stated that the Federation imposed a home based goalkeeper on him, which he refused.

Reacting, the NFF revealed that the American tactician made some errors in the final list of players invited for the World Cup, they however advised him to concentrate on the task ahead.

“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’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 players to go straight to Australia and camp for 15/16 days acclimatising to the weather and conditions.

On the issue of home based goalkeeper, it was revealed that Waldrum never invited home based goalkeeper for grooming during the FIFA window for international friendly games.

“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 two years (and only because Chiamaka was badly injured in a friendly in Mexico earlier this year).

“His outbursts are nothing but an after-thought. 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 WC where you spotted them.

“There is no need to say more. The WC is around the corner and he should simply concentrate on the task at hand." NFF advised