Lagos, August 27, 2024 — The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially appointed German coach Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team. The announcement was made early Tuesday following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee.
In a statement, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi confirmed the decision, stating, “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.”
Labbadia, born in Darmstadt, Germany, on February 8, 1966, brings a wealth of experience to the Super Eagles. As a former player, he enjoyed a successful career in the Bundesliga, playing for clubs such as Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, and FC Cologne. He won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994 and earned two caps for the German national team, Die Mannschaft.
As a coach, Labbadia has managed several top-tier European clubs, including Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, and Bayer Leverkusen. He holds a UEFA Pro License, underscoring his extensive qualifications for the role.
Labbadia becomes the sixth German to take charge of the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of coaches like Gernot Rohr, who led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and Manfred Höner, who guided the team to the runner-up position in the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations.
Labbadia’s immediate task will be to lead the Super Eagles in two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. The team will face Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo, followed by an away match against Rwanda on September 10 in Kigali. These matches are part of the qualifying campaign, with four more matches scheduled for October and November.
The appointment of Bruno Labbadia as the 37th Head Coach of the Super Eagles marks the beginning of a new chapter for Nigerian football, as the team looks to build on its rich history and achieve success on the continental and global stages.
