Back by popular demand, Randy Waldrum has resurfaced to lead Nigeria to February's Olympics double header qualifiers against Cameroon.
The controversial American tactician disappeared after guiding the Super Falcons to a fascinating second round outcome at the World Cup last summer amidst a messy and highly publicized feud with the NFF; their foul laundries were washed in the public.
In his absence, Stand-in Coach Magudu led the team to successfully navigate Wafcon qualifiers. I actually enjoyed the brand of football under Magudu but this Olympics tasks are beyond his experience and expertise. At some point it seemed the rift between Waldrum and the NFF was irreconcilable.
But, alas he is back!
In a Twitter (X) video floated by the NFF this week, Waldrum expressed his ambition to qualify Nigeria for the Olympics Women football games thereby breaking a 16 year hiatus jinx.
“Our goal is to qualify for the Olympics (in Paris this summer),” said Waldrum. “Our opponents Cameroon are very dangerous; they have a lot of talent and they are deadly at counter attacking football. But if we can put together the kind of performances we did at the World Cup, then I truly fancy our chances against Cameroon.” Said Waldrum.
Waldrum went on to say that insufficient time to prepare for these qualifiers means the Super Falcons will have to leverage their World Cup experience to propel them to victory.
The Super Falcons are riding on the waves of positive results going into this encounter having stayed undefeated in open play in 11 matches going back to February last year.
Cameroon, who recently lost to the likes of Kenya and Uganda, will have to be on top of their game to scale this hurdle.
My money is on a Super Falcons win.
Not just because I am a Nigeria fan but because the Super Falcons have exhibited a compelling brand of football in the last 12 months pre and post World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Individually we have the players and collectively the team have recently interacted and congealed into a compelling unit thereby achieving wonderful outcomes.
Cameroon are a powerhouse in African women's football and not to be taken lightly. But if Waldrum and his girls get all their ducks in a row, then success is fait accompli.