On Tuesday morning, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made a surprising announcement that Bruno Labbadia would be the new head coach of the Super Eagles. This news came as a shock to many football fans and experts because, up until that moment, Labbadia had not been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role.
Prior to Labbadia’s appointment, the NFF had been considering several other coaches. Among the candidates were Janne Andersson from Sweden and Herve Renard from France. Both of these coaches had experience and a strong reputation, making them serious contenders for the position. However, as it became clear that securing either Andersson or Renard would be challenging, the NFF’s search for a suitable coach grew more urgent and disorganized.
The NFF’s attempt to find a new head coach seemed to be becoming more chaotic. The federation reached out to several other potential candidates, including Greece’s manager Gustavo Poyet, Aitor Karanka, who had worked as an assistant to Jose Mourinho, and Fabio Cannavaro, a former Italian defender. This approach suggested that the NFF was struggling to find the right person for the job.
Despite the seeming confusion, the NFF eventually made a formal announcement about Labbadia’s appointment. The Secretary General of the NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, released a brief statement that read: “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect.”
However, just a few days later, German-based publication Kicker reported that the deal with Labbadia had fallen through. According to the report, the collapse of the deal was due to Labbadia’s request for the NFF to cover his tax payments both in Nigeria and Germany. This development raised concerns about why the NFF made a public announcement when the negotiations were not yet finalized.
Victor Oluwafemi, the Content Lead at Football411, expressed his disappointment with the NFF’s handling of the situation. “It’s quite alarming and shameful that the current NFF board went ahead to announce a new coach without signing the dotted lines,” He criticized the NFF for appearing disorganized and indifferent to the Super Eagles’ image. Oluwafemi also pointed out that it had been a long time since Nigeria entered a qualification campaign without a coach, whether interim or permanent. With more than 70 days available to appoint a manager, he questioned whether the team could secure a win against Benin.
Solace Chukwu, the Site Coordinator for AfrikFoot NG, added to the critique by labeling the situation as an example of ongoing incompetence within the NFF. “I think it is just the latest incidence of incompetence in a body that has come to symbolize that very concept,” Chukwu said. He noted that there were signs of trouble from the beginning and criticized the NFF for making a late and unsatisfactory appointment. Chukwu also remarked that even if they managed to find a coach, it would not inspire confidence given the current state of affairs.
Looking ahead, the Super Eagles have two crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers scheduled during this international break. They are set to host Benin Republic and then travel to Rwanda three days later. Given the current uncertainty regarding the head coach, it is expected that Austin Eguavoen, who had previously managed the team, will take charge of these matches on an interim basis. Eguavoen’s role in selecting the squad makes his interim appointment a logical choice.
Chukwu mentioned that if Eguavoen were to deliver positive results in these upcoming fixtures, it could shift the narrative surrounding the coaching situation. “I think that if he does, that may be used, in conjunction with the manner in which the Labbadia situation unfolded, to make the case for giving the job full-time to an indigenous coach, even if not necessarily Eguavoen himself,” Chukwu suggested.
The Super Eagles’ performance in these crucial matches could play a significant role in determining their future direction and whether the NFF will reconsider its approach to finding a new head coach.
