In a viral video shared on X, the American coach accused the NFF of failing to utilize the $960,000 FIFA disbursed in October 2022 for the team’s World Cup preparations. Waldrum argued that the lack of proper camping, poor travel logistics, and inadequate staffing all stemmed from the alleged mismanagement of the funds.
Nigeria crashed out of the tournament in the round of 16 after losing to England via penalties. Waldrum insists that the team’s preparation was compromised by avoidable negligence from the federation.
“Where Did the Money Go?” – Waldrum Asks
Waldrum detailed instances of logistical failures, including players arriving just hours before a crucial friendly match in Japan — a situation he blamed on the NFF.
“If Nigeria got that money, why didn’t we have a camp in November?”
“Some of our players arrived the morning of the game after 16 hours of travel,” he said.
He further revealed that FIFA provides financial support for federations that cannot afford business-class tickets, stating that FIFA could deduct the travel cost from World Cup earnings — eliminating any excuse for the NFF’s logistical shortcomings.
NFF Failed to Use Full FIFA-Approved Staffing – Waldrum
The former coach also accused the NFF of failing to maximize the number of technical staff FIFA approves for World Cup teams.
FIFA permits up to 22 technical staff members, but Waldrum said the Super Falcons travelled with only about 11.
“We didn’t have scouts. We didn’t have an analyst. Everything I did was from online videos,” he explained.
He added that other top teams, including the United States, had dedicated scouts monitoring opponents across Europe and Australia — a luxury he said Nigeria was denied despite FIFA covering staffing bonuses.
The fresh allegations deepen scrutiny around the NFF, which has faced repeated criticisms regarding transparency and management of national football funds.
