The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, quoted NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, as saying in the early hours of Tuesday that Labbadia’s appointment was with immediate effect.
“The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
“The appointment is with immediate effect,” Sanusi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 58-year-old gaffer was born in Darmstadt, Germany on Feb. 8, 1966.
Labbadia won two caps for Die Mannschaft in his playing career that took him through clubs such as home-town team Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, and FC Kaiserslautern.
Others include; Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC.
He triumphed in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich as a player in 1994.
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He coached famous names Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart this decade, and previously, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, among others, and holds a UEFA Pro License.
He is only the sixth German, after Karl-Heinz Marotzke (who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008) and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021) to lead the Super Eagles.
Höner led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified and led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Labbadi’s immediate challenge is to take charge of the three-time African champions for two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Sept. 7 in Uyo) and Rwanda (Sept. 10 in Kigali).
Four other matches would conclude the qualifying race following in the months of October and November.
The deal between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the new Super Eagles Coach Bruno Labbadia have been aborted.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF had earlier announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with German tactician, Labbadia to become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
However, a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Friday quoted the NFF President, Musa Gusau as saying that the deal between the NFF and Labbadia had been botched.
Gusau explained that stringent regulations of German tax authorities had conspired to abort the agreement between the NFF and Coach Labbadia.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days.
“I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities.
“It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32 per cent to 40 per cent of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
“The NFF and Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
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“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,” Gusau said.
He added that with the latest development, Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Augustine Eguavoen will now take charge of the Super Eagles.
Eguavoen will lead the team for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic in Uyo, Sept. 7 and Kigali, Rwanda Kigali, on Sept. 10.
NAN reports that this would be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005 to 2007, 2010 and 2022.
Nigeria has ended the 2024 Paris Olympics without a medal. Hannah Reuben lost her Women’s Freestyle 76kg fight early Saturday to effectively put the country’s slim hope of making the podium to rest.
She lost 5-2 to Mongolia’s Enkh-Amaryn Davaanasan in the round of 16 tie, capping off a woeful showing for the West African nation.
Team Nigeria went to the Olympics on the back of some great performances in qualifying events. The country registered for 12 events, but sadly – like previous Games – failed to translate its continental dominance at the Olympics.
A series of heartbreaking losses and some administrative lapses have seen Nigeria return home without a medal. The last time that happened was at the London Games in 2012.
Nigeria’s poor showing in Paris was replicated in 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, 1968 Mexico, 1980 Moscow, and 1988 Seoul where the country won no medal.
President Bola Tinubu had approved N12 billion for the country’s outing at the Olympics and the Paralympics. N9bn was earmarked for the former while N 3bn was budgeted for the latter.
Tracks and Field dreams in tatters
Ofili was one of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls going into the Olympics.
Going into the Games, Team Nigeria had banked on tracks and field events, one of the country’s dominant areas, to rake in the medals.
Favour Ofili had made history as the first Nigerian since Atlanta 1996 to reach the semi-final of the 200m. Despite her season’s best of 22.05 seconds in the semi-finals, she could not make a podium finish.
In the 200m, Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike reached the semi-final while his compatriot Ezekiel Nathaniel also fell short in the 400m hurdles in the same stage.
Nigeria’s joy in the 4x400m men’s event was cut short after they were disqualified from the race for a violation of the rules. The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene, and Chidi Okezie finished heat 2 with a Season’s Best time of 2 minutes 59.81 seconds.
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Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli, Dubem Amene, and Ezekiel Nathaniel react after competing in the men’s 4x400m relay heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
However, one of the Nigerians was said to have crossed lanes leading to the tripping of a South African athlete. The West African nation’s spot was thereafter given to South Africa.
Medal hopefuls disappoint
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan reacts next to US’ Grace Elizabeth Stark after competing in the women’s 100m hurdles semi-final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
Before then, world record holder Tobi Amusan was primed to finish on the podium in hurdles. She had a strong showing in the women’s 100m hurdles heat. But that flicker of hope was extinguished after she lost in the semi-final of the event.
The Nigerian was third in her heat, finishing in a time of 12:55 seconds. She missed out on the automatic qualifying spots with her hopes of entering the final as one of the best losers also gone. That was because her time was insufficient to make the cut.
Even though Nigeria’s Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor made history by reaching the women’s long jump final, none of them came back with a medal.
It was the first time three Nigerians had reached that stage of the event.
A bright spot
Nigeria’s players and staff, with Nigeria’s US coach Rena Wakama (3rdR) pose as they celebrate after winning the women’s preliminary round group B basketball match between Canada and Nigeria during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on August 4, 2024. (Photo by Sameer AL-DOUMY / AFP)
Nigeria’s D’Tigress may have been stopped in the quarter-final of the Games, but they did make history in Paris. Coach Rena Wakama’s ladies became the first African side (male or female) to reach the last eight of the Olympics.
The D’Tigress lost gallantly to the US – 88–74 – after a spirited showing.
In the wake of Nigeria’s shoddy outing at the Paris Olympics, the Minister of Sports Development John Enoh described the performances as a disaster, promising to address the issues leading to the nation’s failure in France.
“As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster and if this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations, it will be done,” he wrote on X on Saturday.
“The elections for the federations are around the corner, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations.
“Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country did not secure any medals does not entail being addressed just by our participation at the Olympics, but it is a product of very many other things that need immediate attention.”
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has announced a cash reward of N50 million in addition to non-cash gifts to Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, winners of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
The governor announced this when he treated the Nigerian champions to a state banquet at the Government House, Enugu, during the weekend, thanking them for etching Enugu State on the African and global map.
“We are indeed very proud of you. I cannot tell you enough what this NPFL title that you have brought right here before us represents and means to us.
“Rangers International transcends generations; it is a unifying factor for us. It is not just about winning a trophy or about making us proud. It is putting Enugu State in the hearts and minds of the people of this country and beyond.
“You have made us proud and we will in turn also make you happy. We are going to provide the sum of N50 million to you in addition to other non-cash rewards that will implant you in our state and immortalise you,” he stated.
Continuing, he said, “I commend the General Manager, who has guided this team with a deep sense of purpose and also fueled your optimism, reinforcing the ‘Never Say Die’ spirit that you are all known for. I thank most sincerely the coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, who through his professional ethics and consistency, has continued to do us proud. The captain and all the players, you are a true embodiment of the ‘Never-Say-Die’spirit. The fans are not left out. I also commend the Commissioner, who has shown deep commitment to the success of Rangers through his tireless efforts and sacrifice.
“However, recall that I had always said to you that success abhors complacency. We still have quite a huge space in our trophy cabinet. So, we still need more. I am sure we are all getting ready for the CAF Champions League and other tournaments. Let me assure you that we will never get tired of supporting you. If anything, we are going to double down and reinforce our support.”
Speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Sport Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, who hailed Rangers for the successful title chase, thanked the governor for his personal and official support that transformed the club.
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Also, the General Manager and CEO of Rangers International, Amobi Ezeaku, who went down memory lane, appreciated Governor Mbah for taking Rangers as his special pet project.
“For two years, the club played away from home, but in a twinkle of an eye, the club came back to the Cathedral. That is why 28th December 2023 when we returned to the Cathedral will forever be engraved in the hearts of not just Ndigbo, but all true lovers of Rangers and football.
“Today, we thank you for easing the stress of our trips, for approving for corporate sponsors to get on board, for coming to watch our matches, and for braving the turbulence of the weather on that day to fly to Jos to witness the lifting of this trophy.
“It is also under you that the Rangers’ jersey is proudly instituted at the FIFA museum in Zürich, Switzerland. It is under you that the Rangers’ jersey is now known at the headquarters of African Football in the 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt. And as we speak, Rangers have been nominated in many categories by the league bloggers award,” Ezeaku.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of Rangers Supporters Club, Dr. Uchenna Orji; club captain, Chukwudi Nwodu; and a top fan, Emmanuel Okoh, aka Okwuruoha, said Rangers were going into the CAF Champions League to win, assuring that they would also retain the league title and lift the FA Cup.
