‘Let us wait and see’ - Ex-Super Eagles striker slams NFF for appointing Bruno Labbadia
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Ex-Super Eagles striker slams NFF || Imago

‘Let us wait and see’ - Ex-Super Eagles striker slams NFF for appointing Bruno Labbadia

Stephen Oladehinde 18:26 - 30.08.2024

Bruno Labbadia's appointment as the Super Eagles' new head coach has drawn scathing criticism from a former Nigerian international.

The Nigeria Football Federation appointed Bruno Labbadia a few days ago to lead the Super Eagles in their next qualifying games.

The German took over the head coach position after Finidi George resigned from the post a few months ago.

However, the announcement of the new head coach did not sit well with some of the fans and some ex-internationals.

Adegoke Adelabu blasts NFF appointment 

Adegoke Adelabu expressed his displeasure with the NFF's decision to hire another foreign coach in a forceful statement, calling it a "waste of time and resources."

According to the Guardian, Adelabu said, “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. 

Adegoke Adelabu, former Green Eagles striker
Adegoke Adelabu, former Green Eagles striker

“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.

Super Eagles new head coach Bruno Labbadia || Imago
Super Eagles new head coach Bruno Labbadia || Imago

“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?”

The former Green Eagles winger questioned the NFF's strategy, saying Nigeria ought to concentrate on developing its coaches rather than "window shopping" for foreign instructors.

The Super Eagles' 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign is scheduled to begin on September 7 at home against Benin, and Labbadia is expected to be on the touchline.

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