German coach Bruno Labbadia has rejected the offer by the Nigeria Football Federation to take over the reins of the Super Eagles.
Labbadia, according to reports Friday by German sports daily Kicker will not be coming to Nigeria any time soon, because he has not reached any agreement with the NFF before they made his appointment public on Tuesday.
The 58-years- old Labbadia on Monday was still discussing contract and organisational details with the NFF, but they hurriedly made the announcement.
Mr. Labbadia who was supposed to arrive today Friday cancelled his trip because of the premature announcement, when crucial organisational issues were not answered.
But NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said Friday night.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities. It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage.
“The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in the 2025 Nations Cup qualifiers September 7 in Uyo. Austin Eguavoen will now handle team in the games and Benin Republic and Rwanda.
