By Biodun Alabi
The announcement of German coach, Bruno Labbadia, as Super Eagles new manager, is chapter 38 in the history of foreign handlers of the Nigeria national football team.
He comes with a decent pedigree for the job,but by September 10, this year, all that could pale into irrelevance after his first two games in charge of the team.
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Labbadia has taken one of football’s most dreaded jobs at a very dangerous time. A time Nigeria’s qualifications for the next world cup and AFCON finals are facing jeopardy.
Nigeria’s football leadership, in recent years, has not always shown stable character of purpose and strength; and conviction to the mad followership of the Super Eagles. The circumstances that led to the exit of Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Finidi George exemplify this weakness. If it was strength, as some may want to disagree with me, the Eagles should have been number one in Africa by now.
The lack of respect for and reluctance to seize the Bull by the horns in sinking and swimming with local coaches for the team, references part of the blights of the game in the country.
Bruno Labbadia’s profile must have been read in the last 15 to 20 hours more than the number of years, put together, in active playing and coaching careers because of his landing the Eagles job.
But this is a romance that could end as quickly as it began. He must bring something special and different to stay beyond September 10, 2024, except his contract says otherwise.
I’m waiting to be proved wrong by the NFF.
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