RANDY WALDRUM HONORED WITH PLACE IN 2026 UNITED SOCCER COACHES HALL OF FAME

By: Gyang Dakwo

Former Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has been named to the United Soccer Coaches 2026 Hall of Fame Class. It is a well-deserved recognition for a man whose coaching career has reached across continents and lasted for many years.

The American coach, who led Nigeria’s women’s national team from 2020 to 2024, will join Craig Ewing, Al Miller, and Steve Sampson in the Hall of Fame. The official induction will take place at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia in January 2026.

Waldrum’s name carries weight in both American and Nigerian football. While he served as head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he also accepted the challenge of managing the Super Falcons, one of Africa’s most successful women’s football teams.

Under his leadership, Nigeria reached the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup before losing to eventual runners-up England. He also guided the team through the 2024 Summer Olympics, where Nigeria advanced from the group stage.

His first major test came at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Nigeria finished in fourth place. Although that result was disappointing, his time in charge helped reshape the team’s structure and playing style

Waldrum’s true legacy in Nigeria goes beyond wins and losses. It lies in the young players he discovered and helped develop. During his time with the Super Falcons, he brought in a new generation of talent including Michelle Alozie, Jennifer Echegini, Esther Okoronkwo, Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, Ashleigh Plumptre, and Tosin Demehin.

These players went on to form the core of the Super Falcons squad that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations this July, only months after Waldrum’s departure.

His impact on Nigerian football remains clear, and his Hall of Fame honor is a fitting reward for years of dedication to the game.