NFF and the fire brigade approach to hiring Super Eagles Coach/African Cup of Nations Qualifiers
By – Dr. Salau D.F(Dee Elf) – NUGA Publicity Liaison Officer 1993-2001
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is at it again with the hurried naming of German Bruno Labbadia as the Super Eagles Tactician. Bruno, 58 was born Darmstadt, Germany, This ends several weeks of speculation on who becomes the Super Eagles Coach since Finidi George left almost four months ago.
NFF could not get a suitable Coach to replace Finidi George early enough to prosecute its football competitions until less than two weeks before the twin AFCON Qualifiers between Benin Republic on Saturday September 7, followed by Rwanda on 10 September.
The new Coach who lacks coaching experience in Africa has not also coached any national side. Labbadia already has an alibi in the fact that he came in late to prepare the Super Eagles for this two-legged Qualifiers. How can NFF wait a whole three months to appoint a National Coach a week to continental Qualifiers?
Apart from the fact that the new Coach lacks experience in Africa Football and Politics, his most recent stint with Club-sides have been short lived. I hope his stay in the Super Eagles job will not be short lived given the fact that he has been saddled with the task herculean task of Qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The poor administrative style of Nigeria’s football governing body NFF has cost football-crazy Nigerians and Country so much pains. How can the NFF wait till the dying minutes before appointing a Coach for a team having a period of three months interval? How do you expect the team and the new Coach to perform? Why do we have to wait for over three months to appoint a Football Coach?
The NFF after waiting for over three months can only boast of a second class Coach with no national team experience. Even the NFF can get Nigerian and African Coaches with better qualifications and experience than this? Whose interest are we fighting for in this Country?
It is important NFF gets its priorities right by doing things at the right time and not at the detriment of Nigeria and her Football loving citizens.
– Dr Salau D.F (Dee Elf) writes from Lagos at [email protected]
