German tactician Bruno Labbadia has revealed why his much-anticipated appointment as the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles fell through, Soccernet.ng reports.
After two months from the drama, the former VfL Wolfsburg manager cited logistical and organizational challenges as the reasons for the failed deal rather than financial disagreements.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had announced Labbadia’s appointment two months ago, naming him the new head coach of the Nigerian men’s national team, following months of searching for a permanent successor to Finidi George.
However, the deal unexpectedly collapsed, leaving the Super Eagles without a coach for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.
In an exclusive interview with Bild, Labbadia provided insights into the breakdown of negotiations. According to the former Bayern Munich striker, the deal fell apart because his initial condition—to visit Nigeria and assess the situation before officially taking up the role—could not be fulfilled once his appointment was prematurely made public.
“I wanted to go abroad. The basic requirement for me was: I have to go to Nigeria to see everything on site. And that was no longer possible after it was announced,” Labbadia told Bild.
While many speculated that salary negotiations may have been the cause of the fallout, Labbadia clarified that it was more of the Organizational things.
“It was no longer about the pay. There were various organizational things that were problematic. And then things got tighter and tighter, so that I didn’t have two days left for the meeting with the national team. Then I pulled the ripcord because the feeling was getting worse and worse.”
The 58-year-old coach also mentioned that he was looking forward to competing in the Africa Cup of Nations and, most significantly, the FIFA World Cup.
“I was tempted to play in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. Above all, to play in a World Cup with a team that would not have to hide from the big teams.”
Meanwhile, NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen has taken charge of the Super Eagles setup temporarily, and with his recent 1-nil victory against Libya, the team sits at the top of the AFCON qualifying group.