EXCLUSIVE: Waldrum fails to hit Addis Ababa as Nigerian Coaches lead Super Falcons against Ethiopia tomorrow 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Head Coach Randy Waldrum will not be in the dugout in Addis Ababa asNigerian coaches are set to lead the Super Falcons in tomorrow’s first leg of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games African qualifiers double-header against Ethiopia’s senior women’s football team at Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa.

Prompt News has exclusively gathered that the Super Falcons gaffer, Waldrum who is also the head coach of University of Pittsburgh Panthers women’s soccer club have decided not to travel to Addis Ababa for the crucial match as he has told the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) hierarchy that he has personal commitments to attend to in his native United States of America (USA).

It was learnt on good authority that the coach has told the NFF that he will only attend the Nigeria leg of the match, a request which the football house is still struggling to either grant or reject in the days ahead.

However, investigation has revealed that Waldrum’s Pittsburgh Panthers will play an away play off match on Thursday, October 26, a reason the coach whose team lost to Clemson Tigers in final road test of the regular season at Historic Riggs Field, did not want to join his second job (Super Falcons) in Ethiopia. His team had on October 19 also lost to Florida State University soccer team.

He had also given the NFF excuses for not attending the FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw in Auckland, New Zealand but investigations revealed that his Pittsburgh Panthers women soccer team was engaged back home.

But Prompt News can confirm that Waldrum’s non availability for Ethiopia versus Nigeria match in Addis Ababa has left the trio of his Nigerian assistants, Justin Madugu, Ann Agumanu-Chiejine and Auwal Makwalla who have been with him in the past two and half years to lead the former African champions to battle against Ethiopia.

Both Madugu and Agumanu-Chiejine possess the requisite credentials to lead Super Falcons as both have Confederation of African Football (CAF) Grade A certification; UEFA and USSF coaching licences from Germany, England, Spain and United States of America (USA) respectively.

Also, Makwalla, the goalkeeper trainer alongside the Madugu worked under former Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby when Nigeria won her last Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy in 2018 in Ghana and assisted the Swedes in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in France.

Agumanu-Chiejine, who won many laurels for Nigeria and was the longest Super Falcons goalkeeper before taking to coaching after retirement, has served as assistant coach under coach Florence Omagbemi led team that won WAFCON trophy in Cameroon in 2016.

Meanwhile, only eight players trained Monday evening at Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa as many others are expected to hit camp after breakfast today with FC Barcelona feminine forward, Asisat Oshoala leading Europe-based stars amongst those who have not arrived camp.

Those who are in camp as at Monday, October 23, 2023 are goalkeepers Oluehi Tochukwu and Oyono Monle Omini; defender Ogbonna Akudo; midfielders Esther Onyenezide who replaced Sweden-based Halimatu Ayinde and Esther Chinemerem.

Others are Alani Jumoke Victoria, Folorunsho Comfort Ajakaye Opeyemi Esther and Nicole Oyeyemisi Payne, younger sister of Toni Oyedupe Payne who was yet to arrive camp as the yesterday.

SUPER FALCONS TO BATTLE ETHIOPIA:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)

Defenders: Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders: Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)

Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens).o