German football tactician Bruno Labbadia expressed his admiration for Super Eagles strikers Victor Osimhen and Boniface, calling their offensive lineup ‘second to none’.
His comments come in the wake of negotiations that could have seen him take over as head coach following the resignation of Finidi George, who stepped down amid a string of poor results.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) initially announced Labbadia as the new head coach, with the aim of preparing the team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda in September.
However, despite the announcement, the deal fell through due to alleged financial disagreements between Labbadia and the NFF.
In a interview with Martin Harnik via Bild, Labbadia revealed his enthusiasm for the prospect of coaching Nigeria in significant tournaments such as the AFCON and the World Cup.
“I was tempted to play in the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. Above all, to play in a World Cup with a team that would not have to hide from the big teams,” he remarked.
Labbadia was particularly impressed by the Super Eagles attack, including Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface.
“Nigeria has an offense that is second to none. I have to say that honestly,” he stated, highlighting the potential he sees in the squad.
Following the breakdown of negotiations with Labbadia, the NFF appointed Austin Eguavoen as the interim manager.
Since taking charge, Eguavoen has led the team to two wins and one draw in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Natons qualifiers.
Adeyemi Adewale @All Nigeria Soccer
