Bruno Labbadia’s much-anticipated debut as Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach is facing uncertainty due to unresolved contract issues with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Although his appointment was announced earlier this week as reported by Sportsbuddy, reports suggest that Labbadia has not yet officially signed a contract, casting doubt on whether he will lead Nigeria in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
AFCON Qualifiers in Jeopardy
The Super Eagles are set to face Benin Republic on September 7th in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10th in Kigali, but Labbadia’s availability remains in question.
According to BBC reporter Shina Okeleji, he admitted the NFF is working to finalize the contract by Friday.
“Nigeria is hoping to finalise contractual details with German coach Bruno Labbadia on Friday to enable him to travel to Uyo and take charge of the Super Eagles in AFCON qualifying fixtures against Benin & Rwanda.
“The desperate NFF announced Labbadia’s appointment without sorting T&C & contract.”
https://twitter.com/oluwashina/status/1829414930681938070
The delay has sparked concerns among fans and media, questioning the NFF’s decision to announce his appointment before finalizing all terms.
NFF’s Track Record of Premature Announcements
This isn’t the first time the NFF has faced criticism for prematurely announcing coaching appointments.
In previous instances, coaches like Paul Le Guen and Randy Waldrum declined roles due to unresolved contractual matters.
The current situation with Labbadia adds to the ongoing concerns about the NFF’s handling of coaching contracts.
As negotiations continue, Super Eagles fans are left anxiously waiting to see if Labbadia will indeed be in the dugout for Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers.
