Bruno Labbadia: NFF blame “tax details” as Super Eagles deal collapses

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has blamed “tax details” for scuppering its plan to install Bruno Labbadia as the Super Eagles’ new head coach, despite announcing the German’s appointment on Tuesday.

The former Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen boss became a surprise pick after the NFF failed in its bid to land either of the other leading candidates, former Sweden coach Janne Anderson or two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard.

In a statement on social media, NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau said: “The NFF and Mr Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the head coach of the Super Eagles.

“The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up.

“We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”

NFF technical director Augustine Eguavoen will now take charge for the upcoming 2025 Nations Cup qualifiers which begin with a home fixture against Benin on 7 September before a trip to Rwanda on 10 September.

Eguavoen is no stranger to being placed in temporary charge. In fact, this will be his fourth spell in the Nigeria hot seat.

But following the departure earlier this year of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, who led the team to the Afcon final in February, and Finidi George, who fulfilled only two matches of a two-year contract, fans will be wondering when the Super Eagles will once again find some stability.