The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finalised an agreement to appoint Bruno Labbadia as the new Super Eagles coach.
A top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “Nigerians are yearning for a coach with pedigree that can turn things around for the Super Eagles and that’s why we go for this great coach.”
“As we speak, I can tell you authoritatively that we have completed an agreement with the German tactician to be the next Super Eagles coach.”
Bruno Labbadia, born on February 8, 1966, is a German football manager and former player who played as a striker. He won the DFB-Pokal in 1989-90 with 1. FC Kaiserslautern and the Bundesliga in 1993-94 with FC Bayern Munich. He was also capped twice for the German team. Labbadia started his managerial career with Darmstadt 98 from 2000 to 2003 and last managed VfB Stuttgart in the 2022/23 season.
He is only the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of 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). Höner led the Eagles to a runner-up position at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified and led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate challenge is to take charge of the three-time African champions for two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7, in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. Four additional qualifying matches will follow in the months of October and November.
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic on September 7, and three days later will take on Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.