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Ex-Super Falcons Coach Waldrum Demands Explanation From NFF Over Alleged $960,000 FIFA Grant

Published by admin on November 28th, 2025.

Ex-Super Falcons Coach Waldrum Demands Explanation From NFF Over Alleged $960,000 FIFA Grant

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Former head coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, has raised concerns over the whereabouts of an alleged $960,000 FIFA support fund reportedly released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In a widely circulated video on X, Waldrum claimed he was informed by a credible FIFA-linked source that every participating nation received the funds to aid their World Cup preparations. According to him, the NFF was issued the payment — roughly N1.4 billion — in October 2022 to strengthen the team’s readiness for the tournament.

The American coach questioned why, despite such financial backing, the Super Falcons were not placed in a training camp before the competition and were also denied business-class tickets for their travels. He criticised what he described as a lack of accountability in Nigeria, contrasting it with the United States where, he said, public spending is routinely scrutinised.

Waldrum added that he was restricted to working with only seven technical staff members, even though FIFA covers bonuses for up to 22 personnel. He revealed that the team had no analyst and no scouting department throughout the competition.

“I have a close contact here in the U.S. who has ties within FIFA,” Waldrum stated. “This individual told me that every country received $960,000 in October for World Cup preparations. So, where is that money? If Nigeria got this support, why didn’t we hold a camp in November?”

He recalled how the team travelled to Japan for a match without staying back to train, which he described as a wasted opportunity during an important FIFA window.

Waldrum also disclosed that FIFA provides financial assistance for countries unable to afford business-class tickets for players and staff, adding that such costs could simply have been deducted from Nigeria’s post-tournament entitlements. “There’s no justification for saying money wasn’t available,” he said.

He further questioned why the NFF failed to maximise FIFA’s allowance for technical crew members. “FIFA permits up to 22 staff and pays their bonuses. Why did we have only about eleven? I had no analyst and had to handle scouting myself,” he lamented.

He noted that while countries like the U.S. deploy scouts across Europe to monitor potential opponents, Nigeria went to the World Cup without a single scout, forcing him to rely solely on online materials and match videos.

Despite the logistical and structural challenges highlighted by Waldrum, the Super Falcons still managed to reach the Round of 16, where they exited the competition after a penalty shootout loss to England.