Bruno Labbadia Bows Out, Super Eagles’ Search Continues
Bruno Labbadia will not be stepping into the role of Nigeria’s national football coach. The 58-year-old German had been in talks with the Nigerian Football Association (NFF) for a week but decided to withdraw from negotiations on Friday, according to kicker.
The NFF had announced Labbadia’s appointment prematurely on Tuesday via X, stating, “Bruno Labbadia will be the 37th head coach of the Super Eagles. The Nigerian Football Association has agreed with the German coach for the senior national team.” This announcement came just a day after key financial terms were settled, but unresolved organizational issues lingered.
Labbadia’s withdrawal is partly attributed to the hasty public announcement and unresolved details. Previous German coaches of the Super Eagles include Gernot Rohr, Uli Stielike, Otto Pfister, Winfried Schäfer, and Berti Vogts. Labbadia was expected to guide Nigeria through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the team currently sits in fifth place in Group C after just three points from four matches.
Known for his successful rescue missions with Hamburger SV, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hertha BSC, Labbadia was initially drawn to the challenge of leading Nigeria. However, the collaboration faltered due to unresolved organizational matters. Despite this setback, Labbadia remains hopeful of one day managing a national team.
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