Revealed: Why Bruno Labbadia may not be available for Nigeria vs Benin Republic/Rwanda

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The newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Bruno Labbadia, may miss Nigeria’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September due to delays in finalising his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Despite the NFF announcing Labbadia’s appointment earlier this week, it has been revealed that a formal contract with the German tactician has yet to be signed. This development has cast doubt on whether Labbadia will be able to lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming fixtures against Benin Republic on September 7th in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10th in Kigali.

BBC reporter Shina Okeleji highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “Nigeria is hoping to finalise contractual details with German coach Bruno Labbadia on Friday to enable him to travel to Uyo and take charge of the Super Eagles in AFCON qualifying fixtures against Benin & Rwanda. The desperate NFF announced Labbadia’s appointment without sorting T&C & contract.”

READ MORE: Super Eagles stars talk tough ahead of Nigeria vs Benin Republic

The delay in contract finalisation has raised concerns among football fans and media, who are questioning the NFF’s decision to announce Labbadia’s appointment prematurely. Despite these concerns, the NFF remains optimistic that an agreement will be reached in time for Labbadia to oversee the qualifiers.

Labbadia, a former Bayern Munich striker and seasoned coach with extensive experience in the Bundesliga, is expected to bring a fresh perspective and tactical expertise to the Super Eagles. His appointment comes at a crucial time as Nigeria aims to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and build on their recent successes.

However, this is not the first time the NFF has announced a coach without a signed agreement. The federation’s handling of such appointments has drawn criticism in the past, and the current situation with Labbadia only adds to the concerns.

As negotiations continue, fans will be anxiously waiting to see if Labbadia will be on the sidelines when the Super Eagles take on Benin Republic and Rwanda in their quest for AFCON qualification.