NFF FOREIGN COACH EXPEDITION CRASHES FEW DAYS TO 2025 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIER

The 2026 World Cup for Nigeria is over—only a miracle can qualify Nigeria. The 2025 Africa Nations Cup qualifier is also heading in the same direction. Nigeria’s qualification cannot be guaranteed due to the shambolic approach of the NFF’s foreign coach expedition since Coach Finidi George was forced to resign his position three months ago. The disdain of the NFF for indigenous coaches is evident.

It has been an endless search until 5 a.m. on August 27, 2024, when an unknown German, Bruno Labbadia, was announced as the Super Eagles coach. Labbadia, who failed to last nine months at Stuttgart or four months at Hertha Berlin, lost 7 out of 12 games at Stuttgart and 14 out of 28 at Hertha. He has no national team experience, no trophies in 21 years, and no knowledge of African football.

In its usual characteristic manner, due to gross incompetence, the NFF leadership mismanaged and bungled Bruno Labbadia’s contractual and engagement terms. The German had to back out of the deal at the eleventh hour. Where else in the world could all this national disgrace and embarrassment happen without consequences, except in Nigeria?

All this is happening under the watch of a lame-duck Minister of Sports. How can this current minister exonerate himself from the rot at the NFF? Appointed by the president and empowered by law to oversee the sports ministry and all its parastatals, he has made no impact after one full year in office. It is shameful that Nigeria prefers square pegs in round holes in all strata of its sports administration.

The coalition of sportsmen and women—an advocacy group in the making—would tackle this laxity and rot in the sports industry. Politicians have no place in Nigeria’s sports administration.