Sports

NFF opens on why Labbadia snubbed Super Eagles job

Published

3 weeks ago

August 31, 2024

Admin

Stringent regulations of German tax authorities have aborted the agreement between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Coach Bruno Labbadia for the latter to mount the saddle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men Team, Super Eagles.

President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, disclosed this in a statement late Friday.

“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,” said on Friday evening.

Consequently, Technical Director of NFF, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, will now take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on September 7, and Rwanda in Kigali, on September 10.

It will be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005-2007, 2010 and 2022.

Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo Diagnosed Down With Viral Infection-Club

Published

2 days ago

September 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Al Nassr struggled in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence on Monday, when the Saudi club kicked off the revamped Asian Champions League with a 1-1 draw against Al Shorta in Iraq.

Al Nassr captain Ronaldo did not travel with the squad for the match in Baghdad, with the club issuing a statement a day before stating that the Portuguese superstar had been diagnosed with a viral infection.

The statement read: “Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t feeling well today and was diagnosed with a viral infection.

“The team’s doctor confirmed he needs to rest and stay at his place.

“As a result, he will not be travelling with the team to Iraq today. We wish a speedy recovery to our captain.”

Al Nassr, who were knocked out of last season’s Asian Champions League in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Al Ain, were given a dream start in the Iraqi capital, when full-back Sultan Al Ghannam met Otavio’s astute, first-time pass on 14 minutes to finish low past Al Shorta goalkeeper Ahmed Basil

Ronaldo is yet to win a major trophy with Al-Nassr since joining the Saudi club.