...Eguavoen to handle the Super Eagles in their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda in September, following their inability to secure the services of German coach Bruno Labbadia.
The German tactician was set to become the Super Eagles’ 37th coach but the deal collapsed following unforeseen matters between the two parties.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Former VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen coach Bruno Labbadia has reportedly rejected an offer to become Nigeria’s next head coach.
Without giving any details of the contract duration, the Nigeria Football Federation announced the German coach as their new mentor on Tuesday.
It is understood that the 58-year-old tactician was ready to take the job as the two parties were just still polishing up minor details before the coach could hit the ground running.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Labbadia had turned down the offer to lead the Super Eagles apparently due to the premature announcement of his appointment by the association.
WHAT THE NFF SAID
The Nigeria Football Federation had announced Labbadia’s appointment on Tuesday.
“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,” the statement reads.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Labbadia has been unattached since parting ways with Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart in April 2023 and it was said that he needed a break from football.
Had he taken the Nigeria job, the ex-Hamburger SV mentor would have filled up the void left by the team’s legend Finidi George who was fired in June following a string of poor results in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Moving swiftly, Nigeria have appointed its technical director of football Augustine Eguavoen as a new head coach ahead of the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
WHAT NEXT FOR?
Labbadia will continue hunting for a job, should he not decide to take a break as it was his plan before Nigeria approached him.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that ex-international and technical director, Austin Eguavoen, will handle the Super Eagles in their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda in September, following their inability to secure the services of German coach Bruno Labbadia.
NFF said the deal to appoint the 58-year-old was aborted due to stringent German tax laws.
“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,” NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said in a statement on Friday.
“It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32 per and 40 per cent of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
Eguavoen will be hoping to bring positive results for the Super Eagles in their Afcon qualifiers against Benin Republic on September 7 and Rwanda three days later.
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