The appointment of German coach Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has sparked controversy within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). Several senior officials within the NFF have alleged that Labbadia was imposed on them by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and Sports Development Minister Senator John Enoh. These officials claim that the decision was made unilaterally, contradicting the NFF’s official statement, which suggested that both the technical committee and executive board had endorsed Labbadia’s appointment.
Tensions rose during the final stages of the selection process when members of the NFF technical committee and board expressed concerns about being excluded from the decision-making process. The NFF board meeting on Monday, where the appointment was announced, was reportedly brief, leaving little room for discussion.
Further investigations have revealed that former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha played a significant role in promoting Labbadia for the position. Okocha, who once played for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga, where Labbadia also had a notable career as a striker and later as a coach, was a key advocate for Labbadia’s appointment.
Labbadia, 58, was a late consideration for the role, but his candidacy received strong “political support” from Sports Minister John Enoh. This backing ultimately gave him the edge over other contenders, including former Sweden coach Janne Andersson and Herve Renard, according to senior NFF officials.
The decision has led to divisions within the NFF, with some officials voicing their displeasure at what they perceive as a lack of transparency in the selection process.