Super Falcons: 7 things to know about planned boycott of FIFA World Cup game

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are billed to kick off their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign on July 21, but with less than two weeks to the D-day, controversies have failed to disappear.

Nigeria’s national women’s football team appears to be in disarray, and if matters arising are not quickly nibbed in the bud, a disastrous outing in New Zealand and Australia is inevitable.   

Pulse Sports had earlier reported that the Super Falcons allegedly plan to boycott their FIFA Women’s World Cup opening match against Canada if certain issues are not addressed.

Coach Randy Waldrum and his players are not happy with how the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have handled preparatory plans for the tournament that kicks off July 20.

Unpaid match bonuses, allowances, and salaries owed remain on the front burner and the NFF is yet to really address these concerns, which is what has prompted the Super Falcons’ alleged plan to boycott their opening game at the Women’s World Cup.  

This report considers all the issues raised by all the parties involved, separating facts from fables and baseless allegations. That being said, here are 7 things to know about the planned boycott by the Super Falcons.

1. NFF owes coach Randy Waldrum and his players

It is no news that the Nigerian Football Association has a rich history of owing national team coaches; while local coaches have accepted fate, it is strange to some foreign-based coaches who are also not spared from this harrowing experience. 

Coach Randy Waldrum was owed a whopping 14 months' salary until June when backlogs of seven of those months were paid, leaving another seven months unpaid.

Furthermore, some Super Falcons players have also not received match bonuses and allowances dating back to some two years after pulling on the green and white jersey of Nigeria.

What more can be so frustrating and traumatic for a group of players who give their all whenever they are on the field of play to represent a country they so much love?

This endless issue of unpaid salaries and match bonuses affected the Super Falcons in their last outing at the African Women's Cup of Nations where they failed to win the title for a tenth time - knocked out in the semis, they also lost the third-place match to Zambia.  

2. Poor preparations ahead of the World Cup

The story made headlines when coach Randy Waldrum rubbished his side’s preparatory plans ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

The American tactician said he would no longer keep quiet after camping plans ahead of the football fiesta was cancelled on the grounds of a lack of funds, making Randy Waldrum to question the NFF.

According to The Mirror, Randy Waldrum is shocked that his side have had less time to prepare for the Women’s World Cup than for a college preseason.  

"I joke about it with people here in the U.S. We have less days than a college pre-season to get ready for a World Cup. It blows my mind. 

“We had to pick a final 23 based on the last camp. Some of these players have been off since May, so I really don’t know the physical condition that they’re in, despite sending them programmes to follow.”

3. NFF and the $960,000 FIFA grant

It is customary with the international football governing body FIFA to support countries participating at the World Cup with grants that aid their preparation. 

Nigeria’s coach is, however, perplexed and lost for words because he cannot fathom what the NFF has done with the FIFA grant. 

According to him, Nigeria got a grant of $960,000 (N739.2m) from FIFA to prepare for the World Cup, but he’s yet to see how the Federation has put that money to proper use.

“I have a real close contact in the US that is very connected and on some of the boards 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? If Nigeria got it in October, why didn’t we have a camp in November?” 

4. Poor treatment of players    

During a no-hold-bare interview ‘On the Whistle’ podcast, the coach addressed a lot of challenges including why players don't want to play for Nigeria because of the poor treatment they get when on national duties.

Their clubs treat them better than when they are back home to represent Nigeria. Waldrum said he’s listened to many players share horrible stories about their tickets and how they had to sleep at airports because there’s no money to book hotels.

Some of them get invited to camp and they do not get their bonuses for winning, which makes some players feign injuries when invited for some international friendly. 

In spite of these, Randy Waldrum was full of praises for ex-captain Desire Oparanozie for speaking up against the NFF in the face of the unjust treatment of the players.

Although she got punished for going public with her opinion, coach Randy Waldrum revealed that he remains very proud of her for being vocal.        

5. Cancelled match bonuses

The Super Falcon were in line to smile to the bank as a result of their participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

For this year’s Women’s World Cup, FIFA is paying $152 million for participants at the tournament, three times more than what was obtainable in 2019. 

Pulse Sports reported that each Super Falcons player was to earn a whopping N13 million guaranteed for taking part in the tournament co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. 

However, when NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi met with the Super Falcons, he informed them that they will no longer be paid 30 per cent of the $1,560,000 FIFA grant to all member associations for the group stage of the competition. 

This was the origin of the planned boycott of the opening game of the tournament by the girls because they were enraged by the decision of the NFF.

6. NFF fires back at coach Waldrum 

The Nigerian Football Federation could no longer stomach allegations and unsavoury comments made by 66-year-old Randy Waldrum. 

The federation’s media director Ademola Olajire fired back at Randy Waldrum, calling him a loud mouth and the worst coach the Super Falcons have had. 

According to a report by The Punch, Olajire said Waldrum’s sole ambition has been to lead a team to the FIFA World Cup and Nigeria has given him that platform. 

“Incompetent loud mouth (Waldrum) found his voice now since he’s about to achieve his only ambition of leading a team at the World Cup. “Everyone knows FIFA pays preparation money for every team going to the Women’s World Cup. 

“The team traveled to Japan to play friendlies matches, traveled to Mexico for a tournament and traveled to Turkey to play matches. The team is presently having a 15-day training camp in Gold Coast ahead of the Women’s World Cup. Is it Mr. Blabbermouth Waldrum who has been paying? 

“He claims he’s been at the job because of the players. Bollocks. His entire objective has always been to add leading a team to the World Cup to his CV. Worst coach to have handled the Super Falcons by a country mile.”

7. No plans to boycott World Cup game

In another twist to the story, Super Falcons captain Oneme Ebi has added her voice to the alleged plan to boycott their opening game at the World Cup.

According to the Abia Angels centre-back, reports of a planned boycott of games is false, baseless, and do not originate from her teammates. 

She told thenff.com, 

“I have no idea where that (boycott) is coming from. We (the players) never had any such conversations as regards that; we are good with training and ready for the World Cup.”

The defender who will be playing at her sixth Women’s World Cup added that the team is in good spirits and ready to go.