The appointment of Labbadia has sparked debate about whether Nigeria and the Super Eagles is once again leaning heavily on foreign coaches or if this move is a pragmatic decision devoid of any intent to sideline local coaching talent.
By Tuka Letura
In a move both anticipated and shocking in equal parts, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has once again turned to Europe in their quest for a coach for the Men’s Senior National Team, the Super Eagles.
On Tuesday, 27 August 2024, the NFF announced the appointment of Bruno Labbadia as the head coach of the Super Eagles. Labbadia becomes the 37th coach in the team’s history and the 22nd foreign coach to take the helm of the national side.
Labbadia, a seasoned tactician from Germany, is expected to bring his considerable experience to a team that has experienced fluctuating fortunes over the years. As the Super Eagles head into the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and beyond, Labbadia’s expertise will be crucial in guiding the team.
This decision, met with mixed feelings so far, has reignited a debate within Nigerian football circles. Is the return to foreign coaches a necessary step to revive the Super Eagles’ past glory, as indicated by the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations? Or does it reflect a failure to develop and trust local coaching talent? More critically, does it signal a deeper, systemic problem within Nigerian football, one that cannot be resolved simply by importing expertise from abroad?
To properly contextualise the current leadership of the Super Eagles, it’s essential to review the history of foreign coaches in Nigerian football. The 1970s and 1980s were notably dominated by Europeans and South Americans as head coaches of the national team. Otto Gloria, a Brazilian, famously led Nigeria to its first major international title, the Africa Cup of Nations, in 1980 during this period. Even before then, both pre-independence and post-independence Nigeria saw a number of foreign coaches at the helm.
However, the recent reliance on foreign coaches when things go south isn’t what warrants attention. Many argue that it reflects the stifled development of local coaching talent and creates a dependency that is unsustainable in the long term.
In the 2000s and early 2010s, there was a significant push to elevate Nigerian coaches to the head of the Super Eagles. Figures such as Augustine Eguavoen, Christian Chukwu, Shuaibu Amodu, and Stephen Keshi—who led Nigeria to its third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013—were celebrated as symbols of a new era. This era was characterised by a belief that local knowledge and passion could propel the team to success.
The last six years have seen a stark reversal of this trend. The Super Eagles have had three different foreign coaches during this period, compared to none in the six years prior. In between these appointments, Nigerian coaches like Augustine Eguavoen and Finidi George have stepped in as interim managers.
The appointment of Labbadia, following in the footsteps of Gernot Rohr and José Peseiro, has sparked debate about whether Nigeria is once again leaning heavily on foreign coaches or if this move is a pragmatic decision devoid of any intent to sideline local coaching talent.
The argument for foreign coaches often hinges on their perceived superior tactical knowledge and experience. In a footballing world that is increasingly globalised, the allure of a coach with European credentials can be hard to resist. However, this narrative, while compelling, overlooks the significant challenges Nigerian coaches have faced in recent years.
Nigerian coaches who have been given the reins of the Super Eagles often find themselves in a position that is, at best, precarious. The pressures of managing Nigeria’s national team are immense for anyone, not only because of the high expectations of the team’s millions of fans but also due to the unique challenges that come with the job.
From poor salary structures to being owed salaries and bonuses, to inadequate training facilities—the list of challenges is endless.
Perhaps the most telling example is that of Stephen Keshi, who led Nigeria to its last major triumph in 2013. Despite his success, Keshi’s relationship with the NFF was fraught with tension. The federation owed him six months’ worth of salaries, a situation that highlighted the systemic issues within the organisation. Moreover, Keshi was treated as if he were a civil servant rather than a coach on contract, with the NFF issuing public queries that appeared more performative than substantive.
Sven-Göran Eriksson, the Swedish football manager who was another case of the corruption that plagues the Nigerian Football Federation. He was close to taking charge of the Nigerian national team before the 2010 FIFA World Cup and in his autobiography, My Story, which was published before his death, Eriksson detailed how his plans to coach Nigeria were derailed by corrupt officials within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
According to Eriksson, during a meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, officials requested that half of his salary be deposited into a special bank account, which he refused. As a result, he was not offered the coaching role. His account of the incident sheds light on the corruption within the NFF at the time, which ultimately denied him the opportunity to lead the Super Eagles.
One of the most pervasive problems in Nigerian football is the issue of financial mismanagement within the NFF. Over the years, there have been numerous allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds, many of which have centred on the treatment of coaches. Both foreign and local coaches have reported instances of unpaid salaries, bonuses that never materialised, and contracts that were not honoured.
However, one constant issue is that the Nigerian Football Federation consistently pays foreign coaches significantly more than their Nigerian counterparts with similar experience and portfolios. A recent example is the disparity between Finidi George and his Portuguese predecessor, José Peseiro. George was on a monthly wage of ₦15 million, equivalent to around $10,000 —astonishingly five times less than Peseiro, despite both having their salaries delayed at certain times. Finidi’s salary was also reduced from ₦15m to ₦5m–one of the reasons leading to his eventual departure from managing the national team.
These financial irregularities have far-reaching consequences. They undermine the credibility of the NFF and erode the trust of coaches, players, and fans in the institution. Additionally, such disparities create an environment of instability and uncertainty, making Nigerian and, by extension, African coaches appear undervalued. This instability leads to frequent changes in management, a lack of continuity in playing style, and an absence of cohesive strategy within the national team.
Does the Super Eagles need a foreign coach?
Given the challenges faced by Finidi George and Austin Eguavoen before him, it is perhaps not surprising that the NFF has once again turned to a foreign coach. Labbadia comes with an impressive résumé, having managed several top clubs in the Bundesliga, including Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart, and Hertha Berlin. He isn’t new to management but this is his first try at international football and it couldn’t be any more critical.
Nigeria is slipping down in their 2026 World Cup qualification group and needs to reclaim the top spot. Coupled with the need to surpass their second-place finish at the 2023 AFCON, only a victory in the next tournament will satisfy expectations.
Nigeria face a crucial start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, with a match against Benin Republic on Saturday, 7 September, followed by a trip to Kigali for the game against Rwanda on Tuesday, 10 September. Players have already been invited to camp.
If the Super Eagles are to achieve sustained success, the NFF must critically examine its current approach to coaching and development. This includes addressing systemic issues that have plagued Nigerian football for decades, such as the recurrent recycling of the same Nigerian coaches in youth teams. Additionally, there needs to be a concerted effort to invest in the development of Nigerian coaching talent to bring new and innovative ideas to managing the teams.
In the end, the story of Nigerian football is one of immense potential, but also of unfulfilled promise. The appointment of a foreign coach is not a panacea to performance issues, but it’s not the ailment either.
Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over five years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints.