The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) initially stated that Bruno Labbadia’s appointment as head coach of the Super Eagles fell through due to tax-related issues. However, the German coach has firmly denied this claim and has provided a detailed explanation of what actually caused the deal to collapse.

Labbadia clarified his position during an interview with Martin Harnik via Bild, where he explained that he had a strong desire to work abroad, but a key condition for him was to visit Nigeria in person to evaluate the situation firsthand. Unfortunately, after his potential appointment was made public, it became impossible for him to travel to Nigeria as planned.

He emphasized that financial matters were not the issue. Instead, he encountered several logistical and organizational challenges that complicated the situation. As time went on, these problems intensified, and he found himself unable to allocate even two days for the crucial meeting with the national team.

“At that point, I had to pull the plug because my sense of the situation kept worsening,” Labbadia explained. He had hoped to arrive in Nigeria several days before the team’s arrival to personally assess the conditions on the ground.

Although Labbadia praised the discussions he had with the NFF, he ultimately decided to decline the role due to a personal feeling that he didn’t have the necessary time to fully commit and give 100 percent to the job. He reiterated that his decision was based on time constraints and organizational difficulties, not financial reasons.

Labbadia also spoke highly of the Super Eagles’ potential, particularly praising their attacking talent. He expressed excitement about the prospect of coaching Nigeria in major tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, noting that Nigeria’s offensive lineup could stand toe-to-toe with the best teams in the world. “Nigeria’s attack is truly exceptional,” he added, highlighting his admiration for the team’s capabilities.