Ngozi Okobi, a midfielder for the Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, has launched a scathing attack on head coach Randy Waldrum, stating that he is not superior to local coaches in Nigeria.
Okobi’s comments came in response to an interview Waldrum conducted with Pittsburgh Soccer Now (PSN) ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set to commence in a few weeks.
During the interview, Waldrum expressed his concerns about the team’s lack of preparation and highlighted the insufficient support he and the players have received from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). However, Okobi, who was excluded from Waldrum’s final 23-player squad for the World Cup, believes that the American coach is merely making excuses in anticipation of his impending failure.
According to Okobi, “He is trying to find excuses because he knows he is going to fail, but I must tell you Randy has been the luckiest one among all the coaches. I’m saying this based on my experience and what I know that has been happening.” She further criticized Waldrum, stating that he is the least qualified coach to have managed the Super Falcons and that even the local coaches in Nigeria surpass him in terms of their understanding of the game.
Okobi expressed disappointment with the Nigerian Football Federation for allowing Waldrum to escape consequences for the interview and accused him of fabricating the issues he discussed. She suggested that instead of sympathizing with him, the NFF should have reprimanded him and advised him to remain silent. Okobi also highlighted her clashes with the coach, stating that he resented her for correcting mistakes he failed to address during training.
The Super Falcons, under Waldrum’s guidance, will face tough competition in their World Cup group stage matches against Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 20 to August 30.
As the Nigerian team prepares for the Women’s World Cup, these controversies and tensions within the squad add an additional layer of challenge and intrigue. It remains to be seen how the team will overcome these issues and perform on the global stage against formidable opponents.
