Randy Waldrum: Could American stay on as boss of Nigeria women?

Waldrum’s reluctance to look to the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for talent has also sparked some consternation from pundits and fans.

With the local league beset by issues surrounding administration and logistics, the national teams play a key role in the promotion and development of domestic-based players.

The other side of the argument would point to the fact that Waldrum has had to work under a number of restrictions over the course of his employment by the NFF, most notably late and infrequent salary payments.

He also famously got into a public war of words with his employers after questioning the distribution of funds, external received from world governing body Fifa, as well as alleging a breach of contract and claiming a lack of support.

The NFF’s defence, as set forth by its director of communications Ademola Olajire, was essentially to respond with a personal attack and there is clearly no love lost between the parties involved.

However, Waldrum exceeded expectations at the Women’s World Cup, taking Nigeria through an unbeaten campaign that featured three clean sheets and only exiting against eventual runners-up England after a penalty shoot-out.

This has earned him credibility and support from some quarters, with former NFF president Amaju Pinnick leading the lobbying for the American to be retained and allowed to build on the relative success in Australia.

Waldrum also enjoys some approval from within the Super Falcons squad – albeit not unanimously.

His willingness to fight their cause publicly, as well as his player management, has brought a number of them onside.

“He’s not just a coach; he’s a father, he’s an advisor, he’s a mentor, he’s just a man with grit and lots of good attributes,” midfielder Deborah Abiodun told Nigeria’s Punch newspaper.

“He has contributed to my life positively.”

There have, however, been fallings out with the likes of forward Ngozi Okobi, who has played for the national side for over a decade but was axed from the World Cup squad.

With the ongoing lack of consensus within the leadership of Nigerian football, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Waldrum.

Madugu. who had been a member of the backroom staff since 2009, is set to oversee the second leg of the Women’s Nations Cup qualifier against Cape Verde on Tuesday, while Olympic qualifiers against Cameroon (19 and 28 February) lurk further on the horizon.