Former Nigerian international Adegoke Adelabu has harshly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation for appointing Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
In a strong statement, Adelabu described the decision as a “waste of time and resources,” expressing his dissatisfaction with the NFF's choice to bring in another foreign coach.
Labbadia, a former Bayern Munich striker, becomes the third coach to manage the Super Eagles this year, following the short tenures of Jose Peseiro and George Finidi.
His appointment makes him the sixth German to take the reins of the Nigerian national team, following the likes of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr.
Despite his extensive experience coaching in Germany, where he managed clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and VfB Stuttgart, Labbadia has never taken up a managerial role outside of Germany until now.
Adelabu, a former winger for the Green Eagles and a sports scientist, criticized the NFF's approach, arguing that Nigeria should focus on nurturing its own coaches rather than “window shopping” for foreign trainers.
“The NFF may have their own strategy in hiring another foreign coach for the Super Eagles, but let someone tell them that it is a waste of time and resources,” Adelabu told the Guardian.
“We must know how to nurture and develop our own coaches. Enough of window shopping around the world for a trainer. Let us wait and see what will come out of it since there is no one supervising the NFF.
“Our challenge is not where the coach is coming from, but the fact that we do not have any kind of football philosophy, and also we have players that are always invited to the national team irrespective of their current form.
“I played under two or three German coaches; Karl Heinz Marotzke and Gottlieb Goller and I had the opportunity to go on a training tour of Germany. In fact, I was planning to study sports medicine in Germany with the help of Goller.
“The purpose of giving a foreign coach a Nigerian assistant is for continuity. How many styles of play do we have to adapt to when we keep looking for coaches all over the world?”
In contrast, former Nigerian international Jonathan Akpoborie expressed his support for Labbadia's appointment, highlighting the German's experience and track record.
Akpoborie believes that Labbadia's arrival represents an upgrade for the Super Eagles, hoping for strong chemistry between the coach and players.
“Bruno was a prolific striker; we were adversaries in the Bundesliga,” Akpoborie reminisced.
“He played for many big clubs in Germany and is an outstanding player and a well-known coach there.
“Appointing him as the Super Eagles coach is an upgrade compared to the names that have handled the team in the past.
“This is somebody that can handle our national team, and I'm hoping that the chemistry between him and the players will come together, and we'll see good football from Nigeria.”
Labbadia is expected to lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, starting with a home game against Benin on September 7th.
NB: Is the NFF right or wrong with the decision to hire Labbadia has Super Eagles coach? Leave your comments below.
It is not a matter of oyibo or Nigerian coaches. The truth is that we cannot afford a head coach with track record and experience. If Amokachi coaches Spain national team or Amunike wins champions league with Barcelona as a coach, then no one needs to tell us what is good for our country. The argument is that as the whole world are chasing Osimen to join their club, let our players go and coach abroad in Africa, Asia, Europe or USA and apply to coach our team. People like Odegbami should do that, or else invite a coach that won African club or national competition twice or fifth time as our coach. Unfortunately, Finidy, Amunike or Eguavoen don’t belong to that category. Nigeria is giant in sports worldwide and NFF has done well in seeing the truth.