Beat England on Monday in their last-16 meeting and Nigeria’s manager, Randy Waldrum, will add a transformational moment to the number of key ones already emblazoned in his mind from his team’s World Cup campaign. However, the biggest takeaway – no matter how good a win against the European champions would be – will still not be an in-game moment but instead the time spent working with the players who have battled so hard to make their mark.
“The penalty against Canada, big moment, Chiamaka [Nnadozie] makes that save, huge moment from [Uchenna] Kanu to get a goal back against Australia right before the [end of the first] half, it changed everything for us,” he says.
“There’s a lot of big moments I can remember and take away from this. Honestly, the best part for me all along is the players. I can’t speak for them on what the connection is to me. I can only tell of my feeling towards the players. I hope they know I’m here and I will fight for them for anything. That means not only on the pitch, that means in life now and in life 20 years from now. I took Trinidad & Tobago and tried to qualify in the World Cup in Canada [in 2015], I’m still in touch with those players now, it’s not a one-off thing.
“I hope they understand and know that I will be there for them, and I will fight for them. Sometimes a coach has to be a voice when they don’t have a voice. On a personal level, they know that if they pick up a phone, I’ll help them however I can. The key moment for me is every time I get to step on a pitch and train with them. That’s my happy zone. A lot of people go and play golf to take their mind somewhere else, my time to do that is when I’m on the pitch with these players. When this World Cup is over, I’ll take that back with me.”
Acting as a voice for his squad is increasingly important against a backdrop of chronic underfunding and withheld payments. Fifa has ringfenced money in the pot it provides to federations for taking part in the World Cup. Each player that reaches the last 16 should receive $60,000 (£47,000) for competing. However, the onus is on the federation to hand it over.
“We as players have a lot of things that motivate us,” Kanu says. “Whatever has happened in the past about the payments, I’m not sure about that, but we know something is coming and we stay focused on the game and play first … Of course, if we get paid that money it will make a huge difference to our lives, we have families and things to take care of so it’s a plus for us.”
That Nigeria have escaped a group with the co-hosts Australia and the Olympic champions, Canada, against a backdrop of strife, speaks to the potential of the nation. “I’m just giving the credit to the players, it’s something that’s inside them, it’s in their DNA to compete and overcome obstacles because that’s what they’ve done through their careers,” Waldrum says.
“It’s a challenge, it’s a real challenge. We know what the top teams have and we’re aspiring to have those things. We are where we are, and it’s really come down to just trying to get the team organised as best we can and maximise the talent that each individual player brings to the table.
“I just credit the players so much for the work they’ve put into this World Cup and you can see the talent is there. Nigeria could be a world power if we start to do things properly and invest like so many other nations need to do as well.”
Waldrum has been hugely impressed by the success of Sarina Wiegman. “Number one, she’s done a fantastic job with England, since she took over you can see the progression of the team,” he says. “When I look at a coach and try to analyse, if I don’t know them personally, you look at the team and tell if they have an idea. In their organisation. They look like they have a plan. A way they want to play offensively and organise defensively. You can clearly see that with England.
“They’re so disciplined on both sides of the ball. Their movement offensively is especially good, against China you saw how fluid it was. She’s done a great job, I give a tonne of credit to what she’s done and taking them through to become European champions. Her pedigree speaks for itself.”
Wiegman is the last female manager left in the competition. “It’s a problem at every level, we need more women coaching in the sport,” Waldrum says. “We have the same issue in the US, there’s been a push in the national team setup but in our university league and pro leagues, there’s a lot of male coaches coaching. Not that men shouldn’t be coaching, if they love the women’s game and they’ve invested in it then we should have the opportunity to do it but certainly we need a big investment in women and women coaching.”
England will be a tough test but there have been some big upsets in this World Cup and Waldrum is hoping for one more: “Teams that are so called underdogs are coming in more tactically prepared to face the larger teams and probably it would be fair to say they’ve underestimated that.”
