The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Bruno Labbadia, a former Bayern Munich player, as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, effective immediately.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, August 27, 2024, the NFF confirmed that Labbadia has been chosen to lead Nigeria’s national football team following the resignation of his predecessor, Finidi George.
ALSO READ: Lynx Point Siamese: Super friendly breed perfect for all pet cat lovers
Mohammed Sanusi, NFF General Secretary, stated: “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. The appointment is with immediate effect.”
About Bruno Labbadia
Born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a notable playing career with stints at various clubs, including Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC.
He won the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 1994 and earned two caps for the German national team.
ALSO READ: 5 ex-Super Eagles players whose children play professional football
In coaching, Labbadia has managed several prominent teams, including Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen.
He holds a UEFA Pro License and is the sixth German to take charge of the Super Eagles, following Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr.
Upcoming Challenges
Labbadia’s first major task will be overseeing the Super Eagles in two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches. Nigeria will face the Benin Republic on September 7, 2024, in Uyo, and then take on Rwanda on September 10, 2024, in Kigali.
These matches are pivotal as Nigeria aims to secure a spot in the tournament, with four additional qualifying games scheduled for October and November.
Labbadia steps into the role following a recent draw against the Benin Republic in the AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria, placed in Group D, will also compete against Libya and Rwanda, who are part of their group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Super Eagles are preparing for a challenging path as they seek success in both the upcoming AFCON and World Cup campaigns.