The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially announced the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. The decision was made public in the early hours of Tuesday, August 27, marking a significant step for Nigeria’s national football team.
According to the NFF, Labbadia’s appointment makes him the 37th head coach in the history of the Super Eagles. “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,” the federation confirmed in a statement.
Labbadia’s immediate task will be to lead the Super Eagles, three-time African champions, in two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. Four additional matches are scheduled for October and November, as the team continues its bid to secure a spot in the tournament.
The appointment of Labbadia follows Nigeria’s struggles in the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under former coach Finidi George. The NFF had earlier announced plans to bring in a foreign technical director to support George, but the team’s poor performance in the World Cup qualifiers led to his resignation on June 15.
Bruno Labbadia, born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, Germany, has had a distinguished career both as a player and a coach. During his playing days, he earned two caps for the German national team, Die Mannschaft, and played for several top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, and Werder Bremen. He was part of the Bayern Munich squad that won the Bundesliga title in 1994.
As a coach, Labbadia has managed some of Germany’s most prominent clubs, such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen. He holds a UEFA Pro License, which is the highest coaching certification available in European football.
Labbadia becomes the sixth German to take the helm of the Super Eagles. His predecessors include Karl-Heinz Marotzke, who had two stints between 1970 and 1974, Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008), and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021). Notably, Höner led the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 AFCON, while Rohr guided Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
