German football manager Bruno Labbadia has officially been named the 37th Head Coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, following an agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In a statement on Tuesday, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the appointment: “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.”
Born in Darmstadt, Germany, on 8th February 1966, Labbadia enjoyed a successful playing career with stints at clubs like Bayern Munich, Hamburg, FC Cologne, and Werder Bremen. He notably won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994 and earned two caps for the German national team, Die Mannschaft.
Transitioning into management, Labbadia has coached some of Germany’s most prominent clubs, including Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, and Bayer Leverkusen. Armed with a UEFA Pro License, he brings a wealth of experience to the Super Eagles.
Labbadia becomes the sixth German to take charge of the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of notable predecessors like Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Rohr notably led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate challenge will be steering the Super Eagles through the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. His first tests will be back-to-back matches against Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. Success in these matches will be key as Nigeria pushes to secure qualification for the tournament.
With his wealth of experience and tactical expertise, Labbadia’s arrival is expected to inject fresh momentum into Nigeria’s football ambitions.
