Ex Super Falcons Coach Interrogates NFF for Corruption

Joshua ChuwangDecember 9, 20252 Mins read5

A former Head Coach of the Nigerian National Women’s team has raised allegations of embezzlement and corruption against the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Randy Waldrum, in a video podcast that went viral on X, claimed that a close contact, very connected with some of the board members in the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), disclosed that every country was given $960,000 to prepare for the World Cup.

“Where is that money? If Nigeria got it in October, why didn’t we do a camp in November? These are the kinds of things that the people in Nigeria don’t question. In the US, that will be questioned. If the US were going through the same things we are going through, the US Soccer Federation would have to answer,” he said.

The Coach alleged that the NFF was barely able to put the team in camp and could not even afford business-class tickets for the team. According to the 69-year-old American, the technical team was supposed to be 2.2, but Nigeria had only 11 members. Critical and technical portfolios, such as those of an analyst and a scout, were ignored by the governing body of Nigerian football. This implies that the NFF was receiving bonuses from FIFA for ghost team members.

Despite such a despicable condition, the team still managed to reach the round of sixteen before being eliminated by England, 4-2 on penalties.

Very recently, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has been heavily criticised for misappropriating development and sponsorship funds received from FIFA and CAF.

On 28 October 2025, Honourable Adedayo Adeshola (representing the Apapa Federal Constituency) raised the motion at the House of Representatives plenary to investigate and scrutinise the financial activities of the football governing body.

“In December 2016, FIFA sent an audit query to NFF over the misappropriation of the $1.1 million development grant to NFF, and it was reported that $802,000 lacked proper documentation, prompting the former sports minister, Solomon Dalung, to order an independent audit and ask NFF to account for the disbursements,” the Politician stated.

There have been circulating social media posts that the NFF spent $1.2 million on the construction of a stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Yet, it does not comply with international standards.

For over two decades, allegations about embezzlement, mismanagement, and corruption have trailed the governing body. For instance, FIFA released $1 million in support funds to the Federation to prepare for the Federation Cup, which was reportedly not adequately accounted for.

Amaju Pinnick’s era as President of the NFF (2014-2022) also faced criticism, with critics arguing that the nation receives support from FIFA yet shows no evident development or infrastructure in grassroots football.

Ex-Nigerian footballer Taribo West called on Pinnick to step down and face corruption charges related to an alleged misappropriation of a $9.5 million grant in 2019.

The EFCC also claims that, over two years, from January 2014, the NFF, under Amaju Pinnick, has received a total of $16.4 million, including over $13 million from FIFA alone and the rest from CAF, into domiciliary accounts with Zenith and UBA.

These claims illuminate the Federation’s dark practices, and its sector has failed to grow despite promising talent and dreams. Players have lamented delayed payments of match bonuses and allowances, as well as poor welfare facilities in the country.

Unfortunately, Nigerians play a role in all these anomalies. As Randy Waldrum says, these citizens have the power to question government activities and hold them accountable.