Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons only focus on football, says Waldrum

Nigeria head coach Randy Waldrum (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum, said his players are only focused on their group matches at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Waldrum said this at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Super Falcons’ second group game against co-host, Australia at the Lang Park in Brisbane/Meaanjin.

Nigeria and Australia will meet on Thursday in what is one of the most-anticipated clashes of the group stage at the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

Waldrum had a row with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) before the tournament but the American gaffer says he and the girls are not thinking about that.

UK-based Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana on Wednesday asked Waldrum at the Suncorp Stadium on how he is managing his team after the war of words between him and the NFF over his unpaid wages and other welfare matters.

“I think the best way to answer the question is that we are not focused on anything else except on our football matches at the World Cup since we have been here,” Waldrum said.

“That is the way that we have decided to handle the situation as a team, so I really would not like to get into any discussion about the issue but I would only talk from the footballing aspect.

“I think the atmosphere in camp has been amazing ever since we arrived in Australia, the players have worked extremely hard and the short training camp we had was very valuable to us.

“As far as I am concerned, the players have all bought into everything we are trying to do as a team and even the coaching staff I can say has been tremendous.

“Once again, all I and my team are concentrating on right now is the