The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, officials have been explaining Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum’s conspicuous absence in Addis Ababa ahead of the team’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifier against host Ethiopia on Wednesday, October 25 2023, Completesports.com reports.
The Nigerian coaches who assisted Waldrum at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, Justin Madugu and Ann Chiejine took charge of the Super Falcons’ training sessions on Monday and Tuesday as Waldrum opted to stay away from the team over an undone contract extension with the NFF.
An NFF source told Completesports.com that the American coach who is also the Head Coach of Pittsburgh Panthers – the University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team – will not honour the two legs of the Super Falcons 2024 Olympics Games qualifying matches against Ethiopia because of other engagements in the USA.
Waldrum, the source divulged on condition of anonymity, will be leading his team, Pittsburgh Panthers, in a playoff game on Thursday, October 26.
Also Read – Paris 2024: Ajakaye Excited By Super Falcons Invitation Ahead Ethiopia Clash
“Perhaps he considered that more important than Super Falcons and he prioritised the university’s playoff to leading Nigeria to the Olympics,” our source stated.
When contacted, the Nigeria Football Federation Director of Media and Communication, Ademola Olajire stated that Waldrum chose not to honour the upcoming Super Falcons’ matches until his contract situation is sorted out with the NFF.
“Waldrum will not be in Addis Ababa for the match against Ethiopia. His Nigerian assistants will in his absence take charge of the matches, that is the two legs of the qualifiers,” Olajire told Completesports.com on Tuesday night.
“I think Waldrum decided to stay away from the two legs of the qualifiers until his contract situation is sorted out with the NFF.”
Meanwhile, France-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Oluwatosin Demehin, midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Asisat Oshoala were among 19 players of the Super Falcons available for Tuesday afternoon’s official training session ahead of their Paris 2024 Women’s Football Tournament qualifying Second Round, first leg clash with Ethiopia’s ‘Lucy’ in Addis Ababa.
Also Read – 2024 Olympics Qualifiers: Ayinde Disappointed To Miss Super Falcons Vs Ethiopia
Also available for the session at the Abebe Bekila Stadium in the heart of Ethiopia’s capital were goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Monle Oyono, defenders Rofiat Imuran, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Akudo Ogbonna, Jumoke Alani and Comfort Folorunsho, as well as midfielders Esther Onyenezide, Toni Payne and Peace Efih, and forwards Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Omorinsola Babajide and Opeyemi Ajakaye.
Only US-based forward, Ifeoma Onumonu was being expected in Addis Ababa on Tuesday night.
Wednesday’s encounter at the Abebe Bekila Stadium will kick off at 3.30pm Ethiopia time – 1.30pm Nigeria time.
The second leg has been scheduled for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Tuesday, 31st October 2023.
The winner, on aggregate, will confront the winner of the Cameroon/ Uganda fixture for a place in the Final Round of the qualification series.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held from 26th July to 11th August 2024 in Paris and 16 other French cities, as well as Tahiti – the overseas collectivity of France.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
34 Comments
This çorrupt and illiterate NFF will destroy Nigerian football totally unless they are sent packing
Nigerian assistants? Dr. Drey has not stopped goading the 9 Nigerian consortium that led us to the fall by Ghana, NFF is already doing so with the female team. Are they allergic to progress in that house? If Terry Eguaoje is on the bench, it would be a different affair. Must ex internationals find rehabilitation in glass house? Cameroun might be waiting. What is wrong in that house?
He called Waldrum a blabbermouth before the world cup.
Who is blabbing now?
They want Waldrum to come back to work without a contract and with salary arrears?
Hahaha!
You dey mind them? They want to pin it on Randy. Give a dog a bad name to hang him. The man should abandon the urgent need of people who’re not owing him to do the bidding of another employer who’s owing him without apology, publicly insults him on top, and foot-dragging on contract extension.
There are two issues here but the first and main one is that the NFF is owing him and very deliberately playing peekabo on a contract extension. This one is on you, Gusau, Demola Olajire and co. Just pray Justin Madugu and Ann Chiejiene pull a miracle in Addis Ababa today otherwise that Glass House go shatter for una head there.
How dumb and idiotic are these NFF people? The media are complicit also, as they help peddle all these lies about Randy.
For starters Randy had already mentioned to them that he wouldn’t be able to make the trip to Addis, because of other obligations. The NCAA is in session and Univ. of Pittsburgh is in those playoffs. Remember Pitt is the University that actually pays his salary (not the useless NFF that keeps owing him for months on end). The NFF was made aware of this weeks ago and intentionally said nothing. But they want to use this against him now.
Olajire is nothing short of an imbecilic-moron. He displayed his lack of intelligence during the WWC and is displaying it again. How a buffoon like him got the job he has in the NFF is a testiment to the degree of rot in our society.
That wat suit njarians. can anyone treat indian , Pakistan, Egypt,south Africa, Niger, not to talk of Benin like this . We don’t know wat we want .
Hahahahaha….they want Waldrum to come and work without a contract like their desperate African Guadiolas who jump at any meat thrown at them like street dogs with no owners, only to come crying in the press that NFF is owing them salaries.
Why will Waldrum not prioritize the employers that pay his Salary at 6 am on the dot every 25th day of the month unfailingly, over the ones that go 14 months without paying shishi?
Good luck to the Falcons. They at least have enough individual talent to see off Ethiopia, though I am scared of the Altitude in Addis Ababa, I’m not sure the SF has ever played at high altitude before. They should be careful from the 60th minute downwards when they wouldn’t be able to breathe properly again because that is when the Ethiopians will come for them.
Spot on Dr Drey.
The consolation for me is that the match will be handled predominantly by Waldrum’s Nigerian backroom staff which should aid continuity in injecting his philosophy on the team.
Waldrum I think is keen to continue working with this group of ladies so it stands to reason that,based on the outcome of contract negotiations, he should be back.
The altitude is an issue and limited time of the team to acclimatise wasn’t particularly helpful. But as seasoned professionals, they should have enough odds and ends in their locker to ride the storm.
Good luck to the team.
This is the lot that befall you when you dont have believe in yourself and own and so stand up to devlop for self reliance.
The dependency turns to insult and hurt you.
Imagine wordroom treating our country in this way, because we are confused as syndronimc dependents and disbelievers of ourselves and our own.
Unfortunately, some will and ignorantly shamelessly argue against this obvious fact I have made
2024 Paris Olympics Qualifiers Live
30′ Ethiopia 1:0 Nigeria
Chiamaka Nnadozie
Tosin Demehin
Akudo Ogbonna
Michelle Alozie
Nicole Payne
Peace Efih
Toni Payne
Rasheedat Ajibade
Uchenna Kanu
Gift Monday
Assisat Oshoala
SF playing complete trash so far, what’s going on my ladies?
Assisat playing nonsense as usual
Asisat missed an absolute sitter from close range earlier. She had carelessly strayed offside anyway.
She has missed 3 one-on-ones in this game already.
The entire team is playing everything worse than rubbish at the moment.
It’s hard to believe this was the same team that only lost via penalties to England at the WC R16.
I will assume the ash weather condition you earlier talk abt as the reason for this rubbish they playing today, bcos. This nothing but shambolic performance from the entire team.
bring our coach back for the second leg in Nigeria, bring plumptre, bring back deborah…..we shouldnt underrate this Ethiopians ledies
Anyone with a link please?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZLltv9Cpvg
Ethiopia Football Federation YouTube account
1-1 now.
Hahaha. So, CSN deleetd the YouTube link I posted. Why e dey pain una, CSN? Is YouTube a rival brand or news site again? You guys didn’t put the link and your admins are angry we’re helping each other. Pathetic. Guys, just search EFF Youtube account – Ethiopian Football Federation on YouTube.
GOD bless you @Kel
What is the excuse for this first half dismal performance? Okay people are catching up with us but we are not progressing as a country nor catching up with the top10. More excuses loading even though I expect us to comeback in this match because with all our stars I won’t accept all these nonsense excuses!!!
You need to see what they are playing against Ethiopia. Was this the same team that did not lose a match in regulation time at the world cup? What an eyesore. Currently, they are trailing Ethiopia by a goal after the first 45 minutes
Ajibade is the captain. But you can tell this team had no coaching. Pathetic. NFF are playing with fire.
Rinsola Babatunde making her debut> She replaces Kanu and is wearing Number 9 jersey.
why did the ref disallowed the goal?? official most be from north africa
Lol no b today.
My brother i wonder why the goal was disallowed,unless there was offside or infringement but from a second look there was no reason that goal couldn’t stand.
Our players too didn’t help by not protesting the referees decision.
This game tells you what pitches in Afica are like. If you add the high altitude in Addis that killed the Super Falcons, a draw was a good result
They showed the replay. I still didn’t see any infringement. NFF should protest it and get back the goal and win. But this NFF go overlook. Even the dummy thief in CAF, Pinnick will go deaf and dumb. No impact. He’s invisible.
There was no bias there.
Ajakaye had strayed offside by the time Onumonu headed the ball to her.
Actually, we should be thanking the ref for not awarding 2 penalties to Ethiopia in the first half. Even from where I was seated watching online, I could see the no 13 handling both balls in the box
I don’t really take football seriously anymore since I realize nothing depends on we the fans. When you have a bad government, corruption NFF, corrupt FIFA and CAF officials plus some strange uncommitted players you have to advise yourself for your peace of mind to never expect anything high.
Rinsola is a very good player, good addition