Bruno Labbadia has revealed that logistical and organizational challenges, not financial disagreements, led to the collapse of his appointment as Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach. The NFF continues its search for a permanent manager as Augustine Eguavoen temporarily oversees the team's AFCON qualifying campaign.
Bruno Labbadia, former manager of VfL Wolfsburg, has explained the reasons behind the collapse of his anticipated appointment as head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles. Contrary to popular belief, Labbadia stated that the breakdown was not due to financial disagreements but rather logistical and organizational issues.
Two months prior, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced Labbadia's appointment, raising hopes for the national team. However, the deal unexpectedly fell through, leaving the squad without a coach for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
In an interview with Bild, Labbadia clarified that his inability to travel to Nigeria to assess the situation before officially taking the role was a major factor in the negotiations' failure. “I wanted to go abroad to see everything on-site,” he explained, noting that the announcement had hindered his plans.
Addressing speculations around salary negotiations, Labbadia emphasized that the issues were more organizational than financial. He expressed disappointment over the situation, stating, “It was no longer about the pay. Various organizational challenges became problematic.”
Eager to lead Nigeria in the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup, Labbadia hoped to build a team that could compete with top football nations. Meanwhile, NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen has temporarily taken charge, recently leading the Super Eagles to a 1-0 victory against Libya, placing them at the top of their AFCON qualifying group. The search for a new head coach continues as the NFF navigates this unexpected turn of events.
