Randy Waldrum: Could American stay on as boss of Nigeria women?

[iworo]

Randy Waldrum: Could American stay on as boss of Nigeria women?

By Oluwashina Okeleji
Sports Writer, Nigeria


Randy Waldrum was appointed as Nigeria boss in October 2020, and the Super Falcons finished fourth at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations last year

A month on from the expiration of his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), there remains a lack of clarity surrounding the position of Randy Waldrum, the former coach of the Nigeria women's national team.

The 67-year-old led the Super Falcons to the last 16 at the Women's World Cup in August but the American has been missing in action since their elimination at the hands of England in Brisbane.

In his stead, Justin Madugu has taken caretaker charge of qualifying matches for next year's Olympic Games and the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

The messaging coming out of the NFF has been decidedly mixed, with successive communiques both affirming and denouncing his standing as Nigeria coach.

A particular bone of contention has been a sense of divided loyalties, as Waldrum combined the Nigeria job with working for the University of Pittsburgh, whose women's team he also managed throughout his time with the West Africans.

"The coach appeared to prioritise his other commitments in the United States," a top NFF official, who did not want to be named, told BBC Sport Africa.

"Managing a country like Nigeria should not be on a part-time basis."

Waldrum had been expected to put in an appearance on the eve of the Olympic double-header against Ethiopia late last month, but it was Madugu who guided Nigeria to a 5-1 aggregate win over the East Africans.

He followed that up with a 5-0 win against Cape Verde in the first leg of their Women's Nations Cup second-round qualifying tie in Abuja on Thursday.

Short of reiterating his incumbency, little has been heard from Waldrum in the months following the World Cup, a fact that plays into one of the major concerns within the NFF.

In September the NFF stated it would "ensure meritocracy in the composition of new coaching crews" for its various women's sides "within the shortest possible time".

A lack of available funds is also a background issue for the NFF, with one member of its executive committee saying the organisation would like to terminate the contract of men's national coach Jose Peseiro - even after the Portuguese accepted a pay cut in September.

"There may be (changes) because of the financial position of the federation," the NFF official added.

"The board has not discussed the possibility of extending Waldrum's tenure. Nothing has been decided yet for certain."

War of words

Waldrum's reluctance to look to the Nigeria Women's Football League (NWFL) for talent has also sparked some consternation from pundits and fans.

With the local league beset by issues surrounding administration and logistics, the national teams play a key role in the promotion and development of domestic-based players.

The other side of the argument would point to the fact that Waldrum has had to work under a number of restrictions over the course of his employment by the NFF, most notably late and infrequent salary payments.

He also famously got into a public war of words with his employers after questioning the distribution of funds received from world governing body Fifa, as well as alleging a breach of contract and claiming a lack of support.

The NFF's defence, as set forth by its director of communications Ademola Olajire, was essentially to respond with a personal attack and there is clearly no love lost between the parties involved.

However, Waldrum exceeded expectations at the Women's World Cup, taking Nigeria through an unbeaten campaign that featured three clean sheets and only exiting against eventual runners-up England after a penalty shoot-out.

This has earned him credibility and support from some quarters, with former NFF president Amaju Pinnick leading the lobbying for the American to be retained and allowed to build on the relative success in Australia.

Waldrum also enjoys some approval from within the Super Falcons squad - albeit not unanimously.

His willingness to fight their cause publicly, as well as his player management, has brought a number of them onside.

"He's not just a coach; he's a father, he's an advisor, he's a mentor, he's just a man with grit and lots of good attributes," midfielder Deborah Abiodun told Nigeria's Punch newspaper.

"He has contributed to my life positively."

There have, however, been fallings out with the likes of forward Ngozi Okobi, who has played for the national side for over a decade but was axed from the World Cup squad.

With the ongoing lack of consensus within the leadership of Nigerian football, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Waldrum.

Madugu. who had been a member of the backroom staff since 2009, is set to oversee the second leg of the Women's Nations Cup qualifier against Cape Verde on Tuesday, while Olympic qualifiers against Cameroon (19 and 28 February) lurk further on the horizon.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/67577163

[ohenhen1]

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

[olu]

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

[Ezesportsworld]

You can see the difference without Waldrum, their play look disjointed. Go back and watch the world cup and see the difference. There is drop in standard of play

[ohenhen1]

Disjointed? I guess you didn’t watch the Falcons games under Randy at Afcon.

[ohenhen1]

Coach Magadu is the new Super Falcons coach,

[ohenhen1]

The team was missing Ucheibe and Oshoala.

[naijaguy]

The team was missing Ucheibe and Oshoala.

Oshoala actually drags the team backwards. She's no longer as clinical and fast as she used to be. She has so much regressed. The teams actually does better when she doesn't play.

[ohenhen1]

Oshoala is still the most athletic target women we have. Still fast and still a handful. I want the coach try out a midfield combo of Ucheibe, Abiodun and Efih for Afcon. Nigeria is going to reclaim WAFCON. Just need to make sure Randy is not re appointed.

[highbury]

The team was missing Ucheibe and Oshoala.

Oshoala actually drags the team backwards. She's no longer as clinical and fast as she used to be. She has so much regressed. The teams actually does better when she doesn't play.

I have seen Oshoala in 2 World Cups to conclude that she provides no value to our national team. She may do ok in Europe but with Nigeria she has been trash

[olu]

Hard to assess Madugu cos the quality of the opposition was low. Waldrum's team did beat Australia and draw with Canada. Waldrum is not exactly a coaching genius, but not sure Madugu is a solid long-term replacement. Will wait and see.

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

[ohenhen1]

Hard to assess Madugu cos the quality of the opposition was low. Waldrum's team did beat Australia and draw with Canada. Waldrum is not exactly a coaching genius, but not sure Madugu is a solid long-term replacement. Will wait and see.

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

Waldrum is the ex Falcons coach. We need to support the new coach.

[King Futcha]

Hard to assess Madugu cos the quality of the opposition was low. Waldrum's team did beat Australia and draw with Canada. Waldrum is not exactly a coaching genius, but not sure Madugu is a solid long-term replacement. Will wait and see.

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

Waldrum is the ex Falcons coach. We need to support the new coach.

how do you know this?

[olu]

It's harsh to call her thrash, but you do make a valid point. There are times our attack seems more coordinated when Asisat isn't playing. She's not great at holding up the ball and is much better when the ball is played to her feet or when she's allowed to run into space. Barcelona seems to know how to get the best out of her. Definitely don't think she should start every game. Depending on the opposition it may be better for her to come off the bench at times. Hope she's humble enough to accept that if the coach decides to reduce her playing time.

Btw, great to see the younger players developing well. Abiodun is bossing the midfield and Demehin is looking like a stalwart in defense. Esther Okoronkwo is also showing great promise too.

The team was missing Ucheibe and Oshoala.

Oshoala actually drags the team backwards. She's no longer as clinical and fast as she used to be. She has so much regressed. The teams actually does better when she doesn't play.

I have seen Oshoala in 2 World Cups to conclude that she provides no value to our national team. She may do ok in Europe but with Nigeria she has been trash

[ohenhen1]

Hard to assess Madugu cos the quality of the opposition was low. Waldrum's team did beat Australia and draw with Canada. Waldrum is not exactly a coaching genius, but not sure Madugu is a solid long-term replacement. Will wait and see.

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

Waldrum is the ex Falcons coach. We need to support the new coach.

how do you know this?

His contract ended on October 31. The new coach is doing well. I like how he is using the fullbacks.

[King Futcha]

Hard to assess Madugu cos the quality of the opposition was low. Waldrum's team did beat Australia and draw with Canada. Waldrum is not exactly a coaching genius, but not sure Madugu is a solid long-term replacement. Will wait and see.

Hmmm. Cape Verde are minnows in women's football. How will the caretaker coach do against Morrocco, South Africa, Cameroun, and even stronger teams?

Didn’t read the article. Just want to add, don’t need him. The new coach won today by 5 -0 without several key players.

What is the part time College coach record against the teams you listed?

Waldrum is the ex Falcons coach. We need to support the new coach.

how do you know this?

twitter bios are the way of the world, his bio still says coach of the super falcons.
His contract ended on October 31. The new coach is doing well. I like how he is using the fullbacks.

[ohenhen1]

Record of the new coach so far.

WAFCON qualifiers
Sao Tome withdrew in round one.
Nigeria 5 Cape Verde 0 (without Oshoala, Ucheibe)

Olympic qualifiers
Ethiopia 1 Nigeria 1 without several key players, missing like 5 starters.
Nigeria 4 Ethiopia 0

Scored 10 goals, conceded 1 while been understrength. Do we really need Randy Waldrum?

[Gotti]

You can see the difference without Waldrum, their play look disjointed. Go back and watch the world cup and see the difference. There is drop in standard of play

Some of you folks are truly comedians…

KUDOS to Waldrum for the near-miraculous (and frankly pleasantly shocking) resurrection of the team at the WC (albeit we only managed to score in only 1 game), but the Falcons’ performances against Ethiopia and Cape Verde (the level of the opposition notwithstanding, after all you play the folks in front of you - and frankly those teams were no worse than Botswana or Burundi that we played against at the WAFCON last year) was most certainly LESS “disjointed” than the hoof-it-upfield-for-Oshoala (or Omunonu)-to-chase tactics during the 6 or 7 game losing streak under Waldrum pre-WC.

Waldrum’s RESULTS at the WC (and coaching remains a primarily results business) has earned him DESERVED reprieve to continue as Falcons’ coach, but frankly you won’t be seeing a lot of tears shed from here if for whatever reason he doesn’t return - unless of course the NFF then proceeds to hire a POORER coach (which, given the NFF’s track record, is more likely than not). Perhaps the best case made for “the Devil you know….”

[ohenhen1]

The new coach name is Magadu(sp).

The Falcons have scored 12 goals and have only conceded 2 goals under his tenure. Give the guy the same support you gave Waldrum. And that is multiple friendlies and training camp.

[Adisboy]

The new coach name is Magadu(sp).

The Falcons have scored 12 goals and have only conceded 2 goals under his tenure. Give the guy the same support you gave Waldrum. And that is multiple friendlies and training camp.

Ohenhen, you keep on spewing the goals scored as if it was something unusual. Do you know that in Randy's 3rd ever match with the Falcons (1st against an African side) in 2021 against Equatorial Guinea we won 9nil? Do you remember that?

[ahidjo2]

Record of the new coach so far.

WAFCON qualifiers
Sao Tome withdrew in round one.
Nigeria 5 Cape Verde 0 (without Oshoala, Ucheibe)

Olympic qualifiers
Ethiopia 1 Nigeria 1 without several key players, missing like 5 starters.
Nigeria 4 Ethiopia 0

Scored 10 goals, conceded 1 while been understrength. Do we really need Randy Waldrum?

That's too simplistic sir. I keep on saying it. We are too simplistic in our analysis and that's why we fail woefully when it matters most. Most analysis here only see black and white. If we win, the coach is good, if we lose, the coach is bad. That's not a sound way to look at teams' performances considering many factors that influence the outcome of games. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Waldrum would not have done much better in these games. The truth is that nobody knows what would have happened but we know one thing- the Super falcons played their best football since the inception of the female world cup last summer. They lost zero out of 4 games and refused to concede in 270 minutes of football, a record. Prior to the last world cup, Nigeria held the unenviable position of recording the highest number of losses and conceding the highest number of goals. Nigerians have a way making an angel look like a devil with severe illogicalities. If there is one person that should be a priority to be retained, it is Randy. His tactical acumen against top oppositions can not be equaled at the the moment. But this is Nigeria where we don't pay attention to details, lack any spirit of excellence and engage in very poor analysis.

[ohenhen1]

I watched the team before Waldrum win Afcon. Then I watched Waldrum struggle at Afcon and lead the team to a 4th place finish. What exactly does he add to the team? The NFF should go with a good local coach. Support that coach, improve the local league. The WOWO nonsense is childish.

[iworo]

You can see the difference without Waldrum, their play look disjointed. Go back and watch the world cup and see the difference. There is drop in standard of play

Some of you folks are truly comedians…

KUDOS to Waldrum for the near-miraculous (and frankly pleasantly shocking) resurrection of the team at the WC (albeit we only managed to score in only 1 game), but the Falcons’ performances against Ethiopia and Cape Verde (the level of the opposition notwithstanding, after all you play the folks in front of you - and frankly those teams were no worse than Botswana or Burundi that we played against at the WAFCON last year) was most certainly LESS “disjointed” than the hoof-it-upfield-for-Oshoala (or Omunonu)-to-chase tactics during the 6 or 7 game losing streak under Waldrum pre-WC.

Waldrum’s RESULTS at the WC (and coaching remains a primarily results business) has earned him DESERVED reprieve to continue as Falcons’ coach, but frankly you won’t be seeing a lot of tears shed from here if for whatever reason he doesn’t return - unless of course the NFF then proceeds to hire a POORER coach (which, given the NFF’s track record, is more likely than not). Perhaps the best case made for “the Devil you know….”

Don't mind these comedians . Waldrum’s team just won the "Best National Team Of The Year (Women)" few minutes ago.