Super Falcons assistant coach confirms Randy Waldrum travelled to USA same day Nigeria lost to England at the Women’s World Cup
Super Falcons assistant coach Ann Chiejine has offered confirmation to speculations Head Coach Randy Waldrum left the Nigerian team in Australia following the loss to England.
Chiejine while responding to questions about the scanty numbers that reception for the Super Falcons by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, said ” the USA-based players including coach Waldrum had on the eve of our game with England confirmed their tickets back to America.
The former Super Falcons first choice goal-tenders target as conveyed by Complete Sports was to exonerate the Nigeria Football Federation – NFF of accusations that they screened invitation for the State House reception following the teams return to Nigeria from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Chiejine said ” The NFF actually told us that Nigeria’s First Lady will host us for the good performance of the Super Falcons, but the USA-based players including coach Waldrum had on the eve of our game with England confirmed their tickets back to America.
” They left that night after our shootout loss. Some others went back to Europe for pre-season with their clubs,”
The rest of the players and officials were routed to Lagos and Abuja. Those of us who landed in Abuja and Lagos were reminded of the reception.
Only goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie excused herself to attend a burial of her relation in the village. Team captain, Onome Ebi, flew in from Lagos and we expected others to join but to no avail.
“I don’t know where the reports in the media that Dr. Sanusi Mohammed screened the invite came from.
I was at the Villa with some other officials and the First Lady specifically asked of Chiamaka and her absence was duly explained to her. It is not as if the wife of President Tinubu would limit the largesse to only those who attended the reception.
So I don’t know where the reports came from,” Ann Chiejine who was instrumental to Nigeria’s best Women’s World Cup outing in 1999 said.
Meanwhile, Randy Waldrum’s future as Head Coach of the Super Falcons is unclear. According to sources within the glasshouse, current assistant Ann Chiejine could be appointed in interim capacity to prepare the team for the Olympic games qualifiers in October.
