Former Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, has publicly challenged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He is questioning the alleged disappearance of $960,000 from FIFA. This money was reportedly meant for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup preparations.

In a viral video shared on social media, Waldrum claimed a source at FIFA alerted him. This contact indicated that every participating nation received $960,000. These funds were for tournament preparation support.

The disputed sum, equivalent to about ₦1.4 billion, was reportedly credited to the NFF’s accounts. This happened in October 2022. That was roughly 10 months before the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Waldrum’s Core Allegations

According to Waldrum, FIFA released the funds in October 2022. The purpose was to aid women’s football development and team preparation. Despite this alleged inflow, the NFF failed to organise adequate camping for the Super Falcons. This happened before the World Cup.

The former coach also criticised the federation’s limitations on technical staffing. He stated he attended the global tournament without essential technical support. Waldrum detailed his concerns in the video.

“I have a real close contact here in the US that is very connected with some of the board at FIFA. This person told me that in October, every country was given $960,000 from FIFA to prepare for the World Cup, where is that money,” Waldrum stated.

He pressed further, “If Nigeria got that money, why didn’t we have a camp in November? We went to Japan, we flew in and played the game and went home. We wasted the last five days of that window to train.”

Questions on Travel and Staffing

Waldrum also revealed details about travel funding. He learned through his FIFA connections that the body funds business class tickets. This happens if countries lack funds. FIFA then deducts this from post-World Cup earnings. “So there’s no excuse to say we didn’t have money to buy tickets, and then we didn’t have camps,” he asserted.

He lamented the lack of public scrutiny in Nigeria. “These are the kinds of things that the people of Nigeria don’t question.” In the US, they would be questioned. If the US Soccer Federation did similar things, it would face accountability.

Regarding technical staff, Waldrum pointed out FIFA allows up to 22 personnel. Yet, the Super Falcons only had about eleven. “So if FIFA will pay bonuses for up to 22 people, why don’t we have 22 people? I don’t have an analyst, and I scout,” he explained.

He drew a comparison: “The US has a scout in Europe, watching teams play in these exhibitions, in case they face them at the World Cup. We don’t even have scouts going with us to Australia.”

Waldrum concluded his staff criticism by saying, “I don’t even have anybody to scout games.” If we get out of our group, I have no one to scout opposing teams. All my work relies on videos and online information.