The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be without coach, Randy Waldrum for the 2024 Olympics qualifier fixtures against Ethiopia today npflupdates.com reports.
Assistants of Randy Waldrum at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, Justin Madugu and Ann Chiejine, will take charge of the national team in the two-legged Olympics qualifier fixtures.
Also read: Coach Waldrum Abandons The Super Falcons In Brisbane For America
Fans have been asking questions as to why the American wouldn’t be available. Some have traced it to the awful PR between him and the NFF few weeks to the world cup, where he accused the NFF of blackmail, misappropriation of funds and lack of support for the team, after which it was speculated that he has been sacked.
But according to a report by CompleteSports, the American will be engaging his club side, Pittsburgh Panthers in a playoff later this week.
Unclear reasons as to why Randy Waldrum isn’t with Super Falcons for Ethiopia Olympics qualifier
“Perhaps he considered that more important than Super Falcons and he prioritised the university’s playoff to leading Nigeria to the Olympics,” CompleteSports reported.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation Director of Media and Communication, Ademola Olajire when contacted by the same media company, stated that Waldrum chose not to honour the upcoming Super Falcons’ matches until his contract situation is sorted out with the NFF.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, told the media some weeks ago, that contract extension talks is already ongoing between representatives of Randy Waldrum and the designated committee of the federation.
“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 said on Tuesday night.
Also read: Randy Waldrum : My Contract With Super Falcons Still Running
“I think Waldrum decided to stay away from the two legs of the qualifiers until his contract situation is sorted out with the NFF.”
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will hope to return to winning ways after crashing out of the world cup few months ago; and also they will hope to defeat Ethiopia, that will give them a chance of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in over a decade.