German coach Bruno Labbadia was recently named head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) now faces a significant challenge as Labbadia has reportedly withdrawn from the role just days after his appointment was announced.

On August 27, the NFF proudly introduced Labbadia as the new leader of the Super Eagles, citing his wealth of experience as a former Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart coach. However, reports indicate that contract negotiations have broken down, with unresolved issues causing the 57-year-old German to reconsider the position.

Despite the NFF’s public announcement, crucial contract terms had not been finalized, leading to complications. Nigerian media reports suggest that the negotiations hit an impasse, prompting Labbadia to pause discussions.

This development comes at a particularly crucial moment for the Super Eagles, who are scheduled to play important Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda in just a week. The uncertainty surrounding the head coach position has disrupted Nigeria’s preparations, raising concerns about the team’s readiness for these key matches.

Labbadia’s withdrawal has cast doubt on the NFF’s handling of the appointment, as the announcement was made before securing a finalized agreement. The federation must now resolve the situation or quickly find a new candidate to lead the Super Eagles ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.