Waldrum’s departure comes after the Super Falcons’ disappointing exit from the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament. His tenure, which began in 2020, ended without any silverware for Nigeria, though the team earned recognition as CAF’s Women’s Team of the Year after an impressive showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

In a press release from the NFF’s communication department, the appointment of Magudu, former Adamawa United manager, was confirmed. This decision by the NFF’s executive committee aims to stabilise the team ahead of upcoming international competitions.

Waldrum’s time in charge of the Nigerian women’s team was not without controversy, as the coach had ongoing disputes with the NFF over unpaid salaries, which reportedly contributed to his departure following the failed Olympic campaign.

Magudu, no stranger to the team, previously showcased his coaching sense during Waldrum’s absence earlier this year. Under his guidance, the Super Falcons thrashed Ethiopia 4-0 in a crucial Olympic qualifier at the Abuja Stadium. Now, Magudu will be looking to build on that success as he takes charge of the team on an interim basis.

With the Super Falcons needing a fresh start, Magudu will aim to inject new energy into the squad and guide them through their upcoming fixtures.

Waldrum took over as Nigeria coach in 2020 after Thomas Dennerby was let go following a run of poor results. Unfortunately for him, he had a tough start to life as in Nigeria as he led the Super Falcons to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

That performance cast a lot of doubts about his continuation as Nigeria coach. However, the NFF decided to keep the faith in him. And he eventually picked up the pace as he led the Super Falcons to an impressive round of 16 finish at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

His last competition was the 2024 Olympic where he failed to take the Super Falcons out of the group stage.

It now appears that the American tactician will not continue as Nigeria coach. This is as Waldrum has sent in his resignation to the NFF.

In the letter that was shared, per OgaNla media, Waldrum revealed that his wife has been struggling with health issues. Hence, he has to quit his role to take care of her.

As at the time of this report, the NFF have not confirmed Waldrum’s resignation. However, in the coming hours, an official statement is expected to be released.

The recent exit of the Super Falcons from the Olympic tournament has sparked questions about Waldrum’s future with the team, amid reports that the American tactician may be considering resigning.

Speaking candidly to the ESPN Africa Journalist, Collin Udoh, Waldrum revealed his interest to stay and emphasised that the decision regarding his continued tenure lies solely with the Nigerian FA.

He said: “I would like to [stay on]. I love the team. I love the direction that we’re headed. After a rough start here, I think we’re headed in a good direction.

“There’s a lot of upcoming talent as we start to move some of the older players out after the Olympics and bring some young talent in. I think we can accomplish great things in the next level.

“That’s more of a question for the Federation. I don’t know if they want me to or not, but I hope they at least appreciate the fact that we had the showing that we did at the World Cup and that we have qualified them for the Olympics.

“And I hope they see that we’re doing some good things, but that’ll be a decision that’s up to them. I’m just thankful that we got through all the rough times and appreciate the belief the NFF has shown in me to keep me on and allow me to do my work. But I certainly would entertain staying on beyond.”

This revelation comes amid growing speculation about his future following the team’s recent performances on the international stage.

The Super Falcons faced narrow defeats against Brazil and Spain and a significant loss to Japan, ultimately failing to advance from the group as one of the best third-placed teams.

Their elimination has sparked questions about head coach Randy Waldrum’s future with the team, amid reports that the American tactician may be considering resigning.

Soccernet.ng understands that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is preparing to conclude its association with Waldrum following the expiration of his contract at the end of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Waldrum, who received a contract extension in January 2024 after leading the team to the knockout stages of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, will not see his contract renewed.

According to reports, Waldrum’s contract, which explicitly states its conclusion after the Olympic tourney, effectively ended with Nigeria’s elimination from the quadrennial event.

The Super Falcons’ inability to secure a point in the tournament has left many Nigerian football fans disappointed, especially after their 16-year absence from the Olympics.

Reports circulating in the Nigerian media outlets suggests that the NFF had planned to reassess Waldrum’s position based on the team’s performance in Paris. However, the early exit has not bolstered his case for continuing as head coach.

The America tactician’s tenure, marked by highs such as the World Cup knockout round, now faces scrutiny as the NFF considers its next steps.

Nigerian football fans eagerly await an official announcement from the federation regarding Waldrum’s fate, hoping for clarity on the future direction of the Super Falcons.

Soccernet.ng rates the performance of the Nigerian players as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Japan at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

1. Chiamaka Nnadozie 6/10: The Paris FC goalkeeper was left in no man’s land by the goals Japan scored. Her display maintained glimpses of her potential, and she’ll have better days.

2. Michelle Alozie 6/10: The Houston Dash full-back had arguably her best game of the Olympics. She burst forward with attacking intent several times but was defensively telling.

3. Oluwatosin Demehin 6.5/10: The Reims defender had a decent shift in the centre of the Nigerian defence. Her passes and runs forward helped the Super Falcons hold possession and build momentum from the back.

4. Osinachi Ohale 4/10: The Pachuca defender struggled with her decision-making. Her passes were also mistimed, as she lost possession too many times. However, she was locked in with her aerial and ground duels. She was forced off with an injury as the game ended.

5. Chidinma Okeke 3/10: The Mynavi Sendai Ladies defender had a terrible game. She lost her marker twice, which led to Japan’s opening two goals. Her positional awareness wasn’t great, and she seemed unsure of her preferred foot. She was replaced during the half-time break by Nicole Payne.

6. Deborah Abiodun 6.3/10: The Pittsburgh Panthers defensive midfielder was composed in possession and tried to build the Super Falcons’ attack from the middle of the park. She was forced off by an injury in the 75th minute and was replaced by Esther Okoronkwo.

7. Christy Ucheibe 6.5/10: S.L Benfica midfielder’s quick thinking gave the return ball to Echegini, who scored Nigeria’s only goal in France.

8. Jennifer Echegini 6.8/10: The new PSG signing scored a brilliant goal after a brilliant exchange of passes with Ucheibe, firing a left-footed shot into the top corner of Ayama Yamashita’s goal.

9. Toni Payne 6/10: The Everton midfielder had a quiet game despite playing in the number 10 position. This was because she dropped deep to help the team defensively.

10. Rasheedat Ajibade 5.5/10: It wasn’t the best of the games from the Super Falcons’ captain. She was unable to muster anything meaningful or creative throughout the game, and she seemed jaded later on.

11. Asisat Oshoala 5/10: The Bay FC forward didn’t have a sniff of goal in her 59 minutes on the pitch. She was replaced by Chiwendu Ihezuo.

Substitutes

Nicole Payne 6.2/10: The Portland Thorns defender limited Japan’s attacking threat on the right after coming on for Okeke. She was decent going forward and was integral in breaking up the opposition’s attack in the second half.

Chiwendu Ihezuo 5/10: The CF Pachuca forward, like the player she replaced, had no sniff of goal in her time on the pitch as Nigeria bowed out of the Paris 2024 Olympics at the group stage.

Esther Okoronkwo: The U.D. Tenerife striker played just fifteen minutes on the flank, but her introduction sparked life into the Nigerian attack. However, it was too late.

Uchenna Kanu: Replaced the injured Osinachi Ohale in the 90th minute.

The Nigerian women’s team has had a challenging campaign in the quadrennial event, suffering 1-0 losses to both Brazil and current Women’s World Cup champions, Spain.

To advance to the next stage as one of the best third-placed teams, Nigeria must defeat Japan in their final group match.

Soccernet.ng highlights five key Super Falcons players who can help Randy Waldrum’s squad achieve this crucial victory:

Rasheedat Ajibade

The Atletico Madrid Femeni forward and stand-in captain has been instrumental in the Super Falcons’ attack.

Her pace, key passes, and goal attempts have posed significant threats to the opponents’ defenses in the two previous matches.

Ajibade to disrupt the opposition and create scoring opportunities will be vital when Nigeria faces Japan on Wednesday.

Chiamaka Nnadozie

Paris FC’s goalkeeper, Nnadozie, has been a standout performer, making crucial saves that have kept Nigeria in contention.

Named the 2023 Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year in Africa, Nnadozie’s shot-stopping abilities and composure under pressure will be essential in keeping Japan at bay.

Asisat Oshoala

The five-time CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year, Oshoala, demonstrated her class in Nigeria’s match against Spain.

Her vision, strength, and goal-scoring prowess make her a key figure in the Super Falcons’ attack. Oshoala’s experience and leadership will be crucial in breaking down Japan’s defense and creating scoring chances.

Osinachi Ohale

Ohale’s defensive skills have been a cornerstone of the Super Falcons’ backline. Whether paired with Tosin Demehin or leading the defense alone, Ohale’s ability to read the game and make crucial interventions has been outstanding. She will need to continue her solid performances to neutralize Japan’s attacking threats.

Deborah Abiodun

The United States-based midfielder, Deborah Abiodun, has been a dynamic presence in Nigeria’s midfield. Her ability to transition from defense to attack, combined with her precise passing and robust tackling, has been crucial. Abiodun’s versatility and work rate will be key in controlling the midfield battle against Japan.

These five players have the talent and determination to secure a vital win for Nigeria and keep their Olympic hopes alive. The Super Falcons will be aiming to make a statement and advance to the next round with a strong performance against Japan.

A win in this encounter is essential for the Super Falcons to advance to the knockout stages of the competition.

Currently, the Super Falcons are at the bottom of Group C, with no points or goals from their first two matches. Japan and Brazil boast three points while Spain have six to secure their claim as group leaders.

Despite this, Waldrum remains optimistic that a victory over the Asian champions could secure their place in the last-eight of the tournament.

“The way the matches had gone, we still needed a result against Japan and had the chance of going through, so whether we lose or we draw, we still had the opportunity,” Waldrum explained.

“I think if we beat Japan depending on what happens in Canada’s group since they have got six points.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for a third-placed team to come out of that group, so it’s going to come out of the other two groups and right now Japan got the win late against Brazil.

“So, they are on three points and Brazil are on three points, so if we can get the result against Japan, we’ll be on three (points), so there’s a possibility that we can still go through as third-place team in that group.”

The Super Falcons have faced Japan once before in the Olympics, securing a 1-0 victory to reach the quarterfinals at the 2004 Athens Olympics. This history gives the team hope as they prepare for what could be a decisive game in their Olympic campaign.

Soccernet.ng brings to light the vast difference between the Super Falcons and the Nadeshiko of Japan. While the Nigerian team are vibrant on the African continent, the Japanese team are a powerhouse in World Football.

In the Olympics history, Futoshi Ikeda’s team won the silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. On the global football stage, Japan won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and went home with a silver medal in the 2015 edition.

For the Super Falcons, their best-ever finish in a World Cup tournament was in the quarter-finals of the 1999 edition.

Japan and Nigeria lost their opening Group C games, but the Japanese nicked three points in their second game against Brazil while Nigeria lost to Spain, leaving their last group game open as both sides look to qualify. Japan need just a point to qualify, while the Super Falcons need to win by at least two goals to get to the next stage of the tournament as best losers.

Match Analysis

Both teams want to win this game, but the Super Falcons will be more desperate as they need all three points to make sure they stay in Paris while Japan might be more reserved as they need to see the game out without conceding to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Nigeria have lost their last three games, and are without a win in their last four, scoring zero goals in their last four and conceding three while Japan have won two of their last five games, losing two. They’ve also scored five goals and conceded six in that time.

The Japanese have a much better attack while the Super Eagles have defended better. However, both sides need the opposites of those to bring their best game to Nantes tomorrow. Nigeria needs to score, and Japan needs to defend.

Head to head

The Super Falcons have played against Japan on three occasions. Both sides met for the first time at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. In that encounter, Nigeria nicked a 1-0 win over the Japanese team, courtesy of a goal by Vera Okolo.

Outside that, both teams have met twice during International friendlies. Japan won twice, with a 2-0 scoreline.

Probable lineups

Nigeria: 4-2-3-1

Chiamaka Nnadozie; Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Tosin Demehin, Chidinma Okeke; Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe; Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade; Asisat Oshoala.

Japan: 3-5-2

Ayaka Yamashita; Toko Koga, Saki Kumagai, Moeka Minami; Miyabi Moriya, Hinata Miyazawa, Fuka Nagano, Yui Hasegawa, Risa Shimizu; Mina Tanaka, Maika Hamano.

Match details

Competition: Paris 2024 Olympics

Match: Japan vs Nigeria

Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Venue: Stade de le Beaujoire, Nantes.

Kickoff time: 4 PM (Nigerian time)

World champions Spain were the heavy favourites to claim a victory over the Super Falcons in Nantes but for 85 minutes the former African champions stood their ground.

However, a cross-shot via an Alexia Putella freekick evaded goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and condemned Nigeria to a second consecutive 1-0 loss at the Olympics.

Interestingly before that Spanish sucker-punch, the Super Falcons had come close to taking the lead a couple of times but Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshoala were guilty of spurning the opportunities.

Even after Spain got the opener, Chinwendu Ihezuo still went one-on-one with Spain’s Cata Coll only for the Mexico-based forward to smash her shot at the shot-stopper.

However, coach Waldrum believes the game would have ended differently had Oshoala and Ajibade seized the chances they were presented with earlier in the game.

“We had three to four good opportunities,” Waldrum said, as per ESPN.

“Regrettably, we did not convert them. We had one in the first half, a breakaway, and Asisat and Rash missed those chances. Regrettably, the Spanish converted theirs.

“We lost to two of the best teams in the world,” Waldrum added. “Spain is the top team in the world and Brazil are in the top 10.

“We have shown that we could have got something out of those matches. It shows we can play against anybody in the world.”

Nigeria will face Japan on matchday three of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, knowing that only a win can give them any chance of making it to the quarterfinals.

Soccernet.ng picks five talking points from Nigeria’s 1-nil loss to Spain.

1. Asisat Oshoala is still Nigeria’s best option upfront

The Bay FC striker didn’t have a clear-cut chance against the Spaniards, but she linked up well with the midfielders and wingers, creating chances for Ajibade who failed to convert.

2. Chiamaka Nnadozie is the Super Falcons’ biggest asset at the moment

Despite successive losses for Randy Waldrum’s team, the Paris FC goalkeeper has been head and shoulders above her teammates, replicating her club form for the national team. She’s the only reason the Super Falcons have conceded just two goals in Paris.

3. Randy Waldrum’s approach too defensive.

The Super Falcons have been able to muster just four shots on target in 180 minutes of football, which is not encouraging for a team that aims to secure an Olympic medal.

4. It was always going to be a tough group.

The Super Falcons were drawn into group of C alongside Brazil, Spain and Japan. The group was referred to as the group of death. While Nigeria pulled off the impossible in Australia last year, they’ve have their work cut out in France.

5. Nigeria have a long way to go in competing with footballing household nations.

The displays in the last two games have shown the technical crew have to get back to the drawing board to make the eleven-time African champions become a household name in football. Spain and Brazil have been dominating the female football scene, and the Super Falcons are yet to be on that apex.