Former Super Eagles head coach and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, will step in to manage the Nigerian national team for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
This move follows the breakdown in negotiations between the NFF and German manager Bruno Labbadia, who was initially set to take over the head coach role.
The NFF had been in advanced discussions with Labbadia, aiming to finalize his appointment before the crucial qualifiers. However, negotiations hit a snag due to stringent tax regulations imposed by German authorities, which ultimately derailed the agreement.
In a statement, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau explained, “We have been grappling with the tax issue for the past three days. I made it clear that the NFF could not agree to cover the additional tax percentage on Mr. Labbadia’s salary as demanded by German tax authorities. It is financially unfeasible for us to handle an extra 32% to 40% of his salary after already agreeing to his monthly wage. Although we reached an agreement in principle, the tax details were not initially part of our discussions, and Mr. Labbadia insisted that the NFF cover the full tax amount. We simply cannot do that.”
With the qualifiers approaching, Eguavoen, a well-known figure in Nigerian football, has been called upon once again. Eguavoen, who managed the Super Eagles during their 2021 AFCON campaign, will now be responsible for guiding the team through these vital matches.
His immediate challenge will be to rally the squad and secure positive results against Benin Republic and Rwanda to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON.
The search for a permanent head coach will continue, but for now, all attention will be on Eguavoen as he takes charge of the Super Eagles during this critical period. The NFF’s decision underscores the urgency and importance of the upcoming qualifiers as Nigeria aims to make a strong showing in the continental tournament.
