Randy Waldrum, head coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, has resigned from his position, citing personal reasons related to his wife’s health, reports sports247.
In a resignation letter dated September 12, 2024, the American coach explained that the decision followed a challenging period after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where his wife’s health became a pressing concern.
“It’s been a very difficult few weeks following the Olympics, with my wife’s health issues, and the worries that obviously come with that. After much thought and consideration, I am hereby resigning my position as Head Coach of the Super Falcons. This will allow the NFF ample time to find the next manager to take over this incredible squad,” Waldrum stated in his letter.
Waldrum, who took charge of the Super Falcons in 2020, led the team through both triumphs and struggles.
Despite some setbacks, such as the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria was eliminated in the semifinals, he helped the team qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Under his guidance, the Falcons delivered a remarkable performance at the World Cup, going undefeated in regular time and reaching the Round of 16, where they narrowly lost to England on penalties.
However, Nigeria’s return to the Olympic stage in 2024 proved disastrous. The team was placed in a “Group of Death” and was eliminated after losing all their group-stage matches against Brazil, Spain, and Japan.
This disappointing performance, compounded by his wife’s health challenges, led to Waldrum’s difficult decision to step down.
His departure leaves the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with the task of finding a new coach for both the women’s and men’s national teams, as the NFF is also searching for a permanent coach for the Super Eagles.
