With the appointment of the German Bruno Labbadia as coach of the Super Eagles, the long search for the man to lead the country’s team has finally come to an end.
The task now is for Labbadia to get the three-time African champions flying again.
And this he has to do by first cracking down on the indiscipline in training camp that the NFF have over the years chosen to treat with kid gloves.
The Super Eagles may have reached the final of the delayed 2023 AFCON in February, but insiders have spoken of gross misconduct by some of the country’s top stars in camp.
Some of the acts of indiscipline by the players in Cote d’Ivoire made for sorry reading and it further explained why the football federation has continued to pamper these players to the point that one is perplexed why top officials are terrified to read out the riot act.
It was not long ago that it came to public knowledge a sex orgy involving several notable stars in the Super Eagles camp in Lagos.
The NFF failed to act on this gross misconduct and by the next round of matches the players involved were selected even when the coach then, Gernot Rohr, wanted them to be sanctioned to serve as a deterent to others.
In June, call-ups strolled into training camp for two all-important 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and as they say, we know what that is one of reasons the country now languish second from bottom in the qualifying group and hard pressed to turn around a faltering campaign to the next World Cup.
There was also the unfortunate rant of Victor Osimhen on social media that has been swept under the carpet as if it never happened.
Former international Jonathan Akpoborie has assured Labbadia is a typical German, who is “serious” and a “no-nonsence” coach.
He warned that it will no longer be business as usual for players who report late to camp.
Labbadia has to therefore show leadership from his first day in charge of the Super Eagles.
He is the boss, the man who calls the shots and so he will no longer entertain the excesses of the so-called stars of a team who are yet to win a major trophy for Nigeria.
He can do this by bringing competition to squad places so that all the players are clear that they do not enjoy automatic call-ups and selections on the first team.
That way he can call off the bluff of the players who believe they are bigger than the team.
The revival of Nigeria’s fading qualification hopes for the 2026 World Cup will begin on September 7 in Uyo incidentally against Benin, who are now one of the main rivals for the ticket to the Mundial.
