Sports
NFF needs to learn soccer governance, management from Thailand – Gbadebo
Nigerian-born Thailand premier league Coach, Adebayo Gbadebo says Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has a lot to learn to upgrade soccer governance and management in the country.
Gbadebo, a former Sports Director of the Students Union Government University of Ibadan was invited to the Super Eagles under the technical adviser Clemence Westerhof in 1990.
The Head Coach of Suphanburi FC, Thailand stated this while featuring as the guest of the month on Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association online platform.
The graduate of sociology from the premier university stated that although it is good to learn from the premier league, Nigeria has so much to learn about how better results are being achieved in countries like Thailand with little resources but fantastic soccer organisation when compared with so much resources with little results.
“I want to assure us that the Thailand Football has moved from the level where Nigerian football is at present. I have been in Thailand for two decades now so I saw the way they (Thailand) grew and I believe the best is yet to come because now Thailand is now competing among the best leagues in Asia. I think they are about number four. There are so many things Nigerian can learn: Is it about management style, or football association system of running the premier league or is it about the stadium and the facilities or the quality of the broadcasting which is at the level of what you can see in very top league all over the world including sponsorship process?. Its good to learn from Premier League but I think a country like Nigeria needs to take one step at a time sometimes to learn from countries that are doing better than them despite the fact that they have less resources than them.”
On if he will be interested in coaching the Super Eagles, the soccer tactician stated that while he is willing to work for his fatherland, coaching the Super Eagles must be backed up by needed logistics without which achieving results will be impossible.
“National team job is different from club job. Looking at my qualification as pro-licensed coach, I have no challenge or problem taking up a national team coach job. Talking about my country, it is an honour, I will be very proud to be a national coach of Nigeria or that of any nation that has what it takes to back it up. Its much more easier because you have the best players in a country and outside the country to work with. What you don’t have access to at club level you have at the country level if you can do your homework very well as a coach. I will also need to know what is on ground because football is not only about the coach; it takes also the interest of the management to back you up. Like in the club, the management needs to back me up with what is needed to achieve what they want. So it’s not only about giving somebody a national team job without giving them the right time, tools, the basic things like funds which must not be delayed. If they are in place, I am a proud Nigerian and I will love to be a national team coach of my country.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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