The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially appointed German coach Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, ending a 73-day period of uncertainty surrounding the national team’s leadership.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi confirmed the appointment in a statement, saying, “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, effective immediately.”
Labbadia, born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, Germany, brings a wealth of experience to the role. As a player, he earned two caps for the German national team and won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994. His coaching resume includes stints with prominent German clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Bayer Leverkusen.
The 58-year-old becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Notably, Höner guided Nigeria to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr led the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate challenge will be to prepare the Super Eagles for crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. Nigeria faces the Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10 in Kigali. With the team also struggling in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Labbadia will be tasked with revitalizing Nigeria’s football fortunes.
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The NFF has not disclosed details regarding the duration or terms of Labbadia’s contract.
However, his appointment marks a new chapter for Nigerian football, as he becomes the 37th coach to lead the Super Eagles since the team’s inception in 1949.
Labbadia’s coaching expertise and UEFA Pro Licence certification are expected to bring fresh tactical insights to the Nigerian national team.
As he takes on this new role, football enthusiasts across Nigeria will be eager to see how the German tactician shapes the Super Eagles’ playing style and results in upcoming competitions.