WWC: Super Falcons forget their trouble for glory against Canada

Nigeria head into the Women’s World Cup with pay disputes still festering but players have set aside their grievances to focus on their opener against Canada on Friday, coach Randy Waldrum said.

The ‘Super Falcons’ have won their last three friendlies against New Zealand, Haiti and Costa Rica but off the pitch they have been at loggerheads with the Nigerian football association over pay and conditions.

In a podcast this month, American Waldrum said he was owed seven months’ wages and some of his players had not been paid in two years.

Nigerian media reported the team were considering boycotting matches at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but Waldrum said none of his players were opting out of selection for Canada in Melbourne on Friday.

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“We’ll be there. All of that transpired before we came and I think the team, once we all arrived here, have just focused on Canada,” the American said after training on Wednesday.

“We met about it the first night we arrived and at that point we all just agreed not to continue to discuss it, not let it be out there and that we’re here to do a job.

“Let’s focus on that job and let the appropriate people handle it.”

Waldrum declined to provide details on his players’ complaints but was not confident they would be resolved by the end of the July 20 to August 20 tournament.

“I really don’t know. Coming from the US and working with the federation, I found quickly things happen at a very different pace than what you may be used to or what we may be used to in our culture,” he said.

The Nigeria Football Federation did not provide immediate comment.

Texan Waldrum, a former coach of US team Houston Dash, praised his players for keeping their minds on the job as they look to reach the knockout rounds from one of the toughest groups, which includes hosts Australia and debutants Ireland.