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By: Ebenezer Bajela.
The PUNCH has exclusively learnt that the Nigeria Football Federation has begun contract renewal talks with American coach Randy Waldrum, who led the former African champions to a round of 16 finish at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last month.
Following reports (not The PUNCH) that Waldrum had been sacked after the NFF held its Executive Committee meeting in Uyo on Sunday, an aide to the NFF president, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH that the federation officials were happy with the American gaffer’s performance at the World Cup and thus urged its Technical Committee to immediately reach out to Waldrum for the renewal of a new deal, a one-year contract.
“The reports flying around are false, they are mere rumours. What was decided at the meeting was that the Technical Committee should, as a matter of urgency, contact Waldrum to begin the process of his contract renewal after he led the Falcons to a round of 16 place with his team posting outstanding performances against the favourites at the World Cup.
“Next year’s Olympic qualifiers begin in October and the federation doesn’t want to take chances, that’s why they want the coach’s contract renewed on time so that he can begin work immediately. Don’t forget the Falcons have a packed calendar for next year, they also have to play the WAFCON qualifiers,” our source said.
On Tuesday, the NFF excluded the Falcons coaching job from its list of advertised vacant positions for the women’s national teams on its website. Only the head coach jobs for the U-17 and U-20 women’s teams were listed, a pointer that Waldrum was set to retain his coaching role with the Falcons.
The NFF and Waldrum had been at daggers drawn after the American tacitly accused the federation of misappropriating the $960,000 FIFA grant meant for the Falcons World Cup preparation.
“I’m not going to be quiet anymore. In October, every country was given $960,000 from FIFA to prepare for the World Cup. Where is the money,” Waldrum stated on The Whistle Podcast in July.
The gaffer also lamented his unpaid seven months salary in July, after the NFF had owed him 14 months.
A federation official told The PUNCH after the World Cup that Waldrum’s contract ended following the Falcons exit from the Women’s World Cup in Australia but Waldrum insisted he had a valid contract until October 31.
“I’m seeing reports that I’ve been sacked but my contract doesn’t end until October 31,” Waldrum told The PUNCH.
However, Waldrum declined comments on the contract renewal on Tuesday, but it now appears both parties are about to sheathe their swords, with the federation set to announce the coach’s new one-year deal in the coming days.
Some Falcons stars also threw their weight behind their coach, saying he deserved a new deal.
“The players want Waldrum to be given a new contract. He led the team like a father and made sure all the issues we had before the World Cup didn’t affect the team. We can’t afford to star all over again with a new coach, the Olympic qualifiers are just around the corner,” a Falcons defender told The PUNCH.
Midfielder Deborah Abiodun, 19, who was shown a red card on her Falcons debut in the opening Group B clash against Canada at the World Cup in Australia, described the coach as a mentor.
“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, he has contributed to my life positively,” Abiodun told The PUNCH.