“It was no longer about the pay”- Labbadia reveals real reasons for rejecting Nigeria

By Wale Mustapha

German coach Bruno Labbadia has opened up about why he turned down the opportunity to become head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, following an offer made by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in August.

Labbadia, a former Germany international and ex-Bayern Munich manager, was initially appointed as the Super Eagles’ head coach, but he rejected the offer just days later, sparking speculation about unresolved tax disputes.

However, the German tactician has now clarified that the decision was based on deeper issues.

“I wanted to go abroad. The basic requirement for me was to visit Nigeria and see everything on site. But after the announcement, that became impossible,” Labbadia explained.

He emphasized that money was no longer a factor in his decision.

“It was no longer about the pay. There were various organizational problems. Things kept getting tighter and tighter, and in the end, I didn’t have two days to meet with the national team,” Labbadia told Bild in an interview with Martin Harnik.

As the situation became more stressful, Labbadia said his “feeling kept getting worse,” leading him to ultimately “pull the ripcord” and decline the offer.

Since his rejection, the NFF has yet to appoint a permanent head coach for the three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions, leaving the team under the interim management of Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen.

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