Less than two weeks before crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, newly appointed Super Eagles manager Bruno Labbadia has rejected the job offer, according to German publication Kicker.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Labbadia’s appointment on Tuesday, succeeding Finidi George, who resigned in May.
However, despite financial terms being largely settled, crucial organizational details remained unresolved, leading to Labbadia’s decision.
Sources close to the negotiations revealed that discussions began last weekend, showing initial promise. However, Labbadia never gave a formal commitment or signed a contract, citing unresolved issues as the dealbreaker.
The NFF must now find a new manager before the AFCON qualifiers in September. Former coaches Austin Eguavoen and Samson Siasia, who recently completed a five-year football ban, are potential stopgap options.
Meanwhile, the NFF has called up 23 players for the upcoming qualifiers, including Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, and stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong, who return to the squad after long injury layoffs.
