In a surprising turn of events, German tactician Bruno Labbadia has taken to social media to hint at his new role as the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The revelation comes after a tumultuous period where his appointment appeared to falter due to complications with German tax regulations.
On Instagram, Labbadia posted with the caption, “New chapter 🇳🇬,” sparking speculation about his imminent role with the Nigerian national team. This follows an earlier announcement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming him as the new head coach. However, the deal encountered setbacks due to tax-related issues.
The NFF initially announced Labbadia as the Super Eagles’ new coach after the resignation of Finidi George, who stepped down following a challenging start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Despite the initial agreement, German tax regulations complicated the process.
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The NFF faced difficulties covering the additional tax burden, which was not included in the original contract discussions.
“We have been grappling with the tax issue for the past few days,” said NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau. “We made it clear that the NFF cannot cover the additional tax percentage required by German authorities. The financial strain of shouldering an extra 32% to 40% of his salary was beyond our capacity.”
Gusau continued, “The tax details were not part of our initial discussions, and despite reaching an agreement in principle, Labbadia insisted on the NFF covering the full tax amount, which we simply cannot afford.”
If confirmed, Labbadia will take over from the NFF’s Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, who has been leading the team in the interim. Under Eguavoen, the Super Eagles secured a victory against Benin Republic and drew with Rwanda in their recent matches.
