Bruno Labbadia has reportedly turned down the appointment to work as the head coach of Super Eagles, despite the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announcing his appointment earlier this week.
The decision comes just seven days before Nigeria’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Benin.
On August 27, the NFF publicly confirmed Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
However, fresh reports from Germany, specifically from Kicker, indicate that the 58-year-old former Germany international striker has halted contract negotiations with the NFF after talks stalled.
It appears that the NFF announced Labbadia’s appointment without finalising a contractual agreement, which has now backfired as Labbadia reportedly decided against taking up the role.
This development leaves the Super Eagles in a precarious position ahead of their upcoming AFCON qualifier, with no confirmed manager to lead the team.
This has raised concerns about the federation’s handling of the situation, especially given the critical timing ahead of the qualifier.
Recall hours after the announcement, a 23-man squad list for the upcoming qualifiers was released to the public.
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