Two months after what seemed like a promising deal to appoint Bruno Labbadia as head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the German tactician has shed light on the unexpected collapse of negotiations. In an exclusive interview with Bild, Labbadia explained that the breakdown was not due to financial disagreements, as many had speculated, but rather logistical and organizational challenges that hindered his ability to assess the situation in Nigeria before fully committing.

Labbadia, a former Bayern Munich striker and VfL Wolfsburg manager, was initially excited by the opportunity to lead Nigeria into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and potentially the FIFA World Cup. However, a key condition for his acceptance of the role was to visit Nigeria and assess the team’s setup. Once his appointment was prematurely made public, this visit became impossible, creating mounting frustration.

“I wanted to go abroad and coach in Nigeria, but my basic requirement was to see everything on-site first. After the announcement, that could no longer happen,” Labbadia revealed.

As the situation became more complicated, Labbadia chose to step back, explaining that the decision had nothing to do with money. “It wasn’t about the pay. There were several organizational issues, and things started getting tighter and tighter until I no longer had time to meet with the national team. I had to pull the ripcord because my instincts were telling me it wasn’t right.”

The Super Eagles are currently being led by NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen, who has secured two wins, including a 1-0 victory over Libya, and a draw in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers. Despite the disappointment of losing a high-profile coach like Labbadia, the team remains in good form, topping their qualification group.