The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has announced that Bruno Labbadia will not be taking up the role of the Super Eagles’ head coach as previously expected. This decision comes just days after the NFF had initially revealed that they had reached an agreement with the German coach. The deal fell apart due to complications surrounding Labbadia’s tax obligations in Germany.
The main issue that led to the collapse of the agreement was Labbadia’s request for the NFF to cover his taxes owed to the German government. Specifically, Labbadia asked the NFF to pay the taxes on his salary, which amounted to nearly 40% of his income. This was a condition the NFF found impossible to meet.
In a statement released on Friday, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau explained that while both parties had initially agreed on the terms of Labbadia’s employment, the tax issue was not discussed during their earlier negotiations. The NFF was open to negotiating but could not agree to the additional financial burden. Gusau stated, “We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities.”
Despite their efforts to resolve the matter, Labbadia remained adamant that the NFF should shoulder the tax costs, which would have been a significant expense on top of his salary. Given the financial constraints, the NFF had no choice but to cancel the agreement.
With Labbadia out of the picture, the NFF has turned to a familiar face to lead the Super Eagles—Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen. Eguavoen will take charge of the team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. This will be Eguavoen’s fourth stint as the head coach of the Super Eagles, having previously managed the team in 2005-2007, 2010, and 2022.
Eguavoen’s appointment as interim coach brings a level of stability to the team during this transitional period. His experience with the Super Eagles, combined with his deep knowledge of Nigerian football, makes him a suitable choice to guide the team through the crucial AFCON qualifiers.
The NFF’s decision to cancel the deal with Bruno Labbadia underscores the challenges that can arise in international coaching appointments, especially when it comes to financial and legal matters. While the situation is unfortunate, the swift appointment of Eguavoen as interim coach ensures that the Super Eagles can maintain focus as they prepare for their upcoming matches.
As the search for a permanent head coach continues, fans and stakeholders alike will be watching closely to see how the NFF navigates these challenges and what the future holds for the Super Eagles.
