Bruno Labbadia has opened up on his reasons for stepping away from the opportunity to become head coach of the Nigeria men's national football team. Initially appointed to lead the Super Eagles ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, the German tactician ultimately withdrew from the role.
Despite widespread speculation that financial disagreements led to the breakdown of negotiations with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Labbadia has now clarified that organizational issues were at the heart of his decision.
Speaking to Martin Harnik via Bild, the former Hamburg SV striker revealed that it was more about a lack of adequate time and the inability to travel to Nigeria to evaluate the conditions. He shared that the tight timeline made it impossible for him to fulfill his obligations to the team in a manner he deemed appropriate.
Organizational issues, not pay, drove decision
“I wanted to go abroad. The basic requirement for me was: I have to go to Nigeria to see everything on site. And that was no longer possible after it was announced,” Labbadia said.
“It was no longer about the pay,” Labbadia clarified. “There were various organizational things that were problematic. And then things got tighter and tighter, so that I didn't have two days left for the meeting with the national team. Then I pulled the ripcord because the feeling was getting worse and worse.”
Labbadia went on to explain that he had planned to spend several days in Nigeria before the players arrived, ensuring he could get a clear understanding of the setup and conditions. “I wanted to be there for four or five days before the team arrived to take a look at the conditions,” he added.
While the conversations with the NFF were described as positive, Labbadia reiterated that time constraints prevented him from fully committing to the role.
“They were great conversations. And what's important to me: It was solely due to my feeling that I didn't have the time I wanted to give 100 percent. That's why I declined,” he explained.