Ex-Super Falcons Coach Waldrum Warns Nigeria Risks Falling Behind Without Football Investment

Former Super Falcons head coach, Randy Marlon Waldrum, has warned that Nigeria’s national teams could lose their competitive edge globally if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) fails to invest meaningfully in infrastructure and institutional support.

Speaking in an interview with EaglesTracker, the 68-year-old American, who also coached Trinidad and Tobago, revealed the long-term vision he had for Nigeria’s women’s team before his departure. Waldrum, who guided the Super Falcons to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and secured qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics, said Nigeria’s football future is at risk unless urgent reforms are made.

“It’s easy to get rid of coaches when they don’t win, but in Africa, it’s becoming harder to win consistently if federations don’t offer proper support,” Waldrum said, adding that Nigeria’s past dominance in African women’s football is no longer guaranteed.

He praised the progress made by nations like Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast, which have made significant investments in infrastructure and talent development, contrasting them with Nigeria’s apparent stagnation.

Reflecting on his time in charge, Waldrum revealed that the NFF’s poor financial management significantly affected his role.
“I went 14 months without pay. If I didn’t have my job at Pittsburgh, I could’ve lost my home,” he said. “That’s why I had to keep multiple jobs—for my own financial security.”

He highlighted Morocco’s world-class national training center as an example of the kind of infrastructure Nigeria desperately needs.
“Nigeria treats winning the WAFCON like it’s a birthright, but that dominance won’t last forever. A time may come when the country won’t even qualify for the World Cup if things don’t change,” he warned.

Waldrum also spoke of his ambitious plans during his tenure. He said his goal was to bring long-term development and structure to Nigerian football, especially from the grassroots.
“When I accepted the job, I had a 10-year development plan for youth football in Nigeria. My dream was to help Nigeria win a World Cup within that period,” he explained.

He credited much of the recent influx of foreign-born Nigerian talent to his U.S. connections, thanks to his ongoing role as head coach of the University of Pittsburgh’s women’s soccer team.

“There’s so much untapped potential in Nigeria, on both the men’s and women’s sides. I wanted to bring some of the organisational structures we use in the U.S., especially given the strength of women’s football here,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Waldrum expressed pride in his achievements with the team.
“I had a tough time at moments, but I enjoyed my four years and we achieved great success. I truly loved my time with the Super Falcons.”

The Super Falcons, now under new head coach Justin Madugu, will kick off their WAFCON campaign on July 6 with a match against Tunisia, followed by games against Botswana and Algeria. Many believe their progress will depend not just on talent, but on whether the NFF addresses the structural and financial issues Waldrum highlighted.