Nigeria's Persistent Payment Concerns Take a Backseat as Players Shift Focus to the World Cup: Coach

Nigeria is heading into the Women's World Cup despite ongoing pay disputes, but the players have set aside their grievances to focus on their opening match against Canada on Friday, according to coach Randy Waldrum.

The 'Super Falcons' have recently won three friendly matches against New Zealand, Haiti, and Costa Rica. However, off the field, they have been in conflict with the Nigerian football association over issues of pay and working conditions.

In a podcast earlier this month, American coach Waldrum revealed that he was owed seven months' wages, and some of his players hadn't been paid for two years.

Reports in the Nigerian media suggested that the team was considering boycotting matches during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but Waldrum clarified that none of his players were opting out of the selection for the match against Canada in Melbourne.

"We will be there. All of that happened before we came, and I believe that once we all arrived here, the team has solely focused on Canada," said the American coach in an interview with Reuters after a training session on Wednesday.

He explained that the team had discussed the issues upon their arrival, and they agreed not to dwell on them further. Their focus is on the job at hand, and they trust the appropriate authorities to handle the matters.

While Waldrum did not disclose specific details of the players' complaints, he expressed doubts about their resolution before the tournament ends on August 20, as administrative processes in Nigeria can take longer than expected.

The Nigeria Football Federation did not provide an immediate comment on the matter.

Waldrum, a former coach of the U.S. team Houston Dash, praised his players for maintaining their focus on the game, especially since they are in a tough group that includes hosts Australia and debutants Ireland, while aiming to reach the knockout rounds.

The issue of pay disputes has cast a shadow over the leadup to the World Cup, with several teams, including Olympic champions Canada and Euro 2022 holders England, seeking more support from their federations. Some teams, like Jamaica, have faced resource limitations and have resorted to crowdfunding to cover expenses.

Waldrum believes that Nigeria, with its rich football history as 11-times Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions, has the potential to advance to the knockout phase of the World Cup. However, he also stresses that unrealistic expectations from home fans and inadequate resources provided by the federation need to be addressed for sustained success at the highest level of women's football.