Nigeria has named Germany’s Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, making him the third person to take up the role in what has been a tumultuous year for the team.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Labbadia’s appointment on social media on Tuesday, stating that he would assume his duties “with immediate effect,” though no details were provided about the contract’s duration.
Labbadia, 58, brings a wealth of experience from the Bundesliga, having managed top German clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin.
This marks his first coaching role outside of Germany. As a player, Labbadia was known for his goal-scoring prowess, netting over 200 goals during his career, which included a stint with Bayern Munich.
His appointment comes just 12 days before Nigeria begins its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a Group D match against neighbors Benin in Uyo.
The Super Eagles will then travel to Rwanda for their second qualifier just three days later.
Labbadia takes over from Finidi George, who managed the team for four matches earlier this year.
His immediate focus will be on securing Nigeria’s qualification for the next AFCON, which will be held in Morocco in late 2025.
However, a more daunting challenge awaits in March when the Super Eagles resume their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Nigeria currently sits fifth in African qualifying Group C, winless after their first four matches.
Despite this poor start, they still have six games remaining to turn things around and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
This underwhelming performance is a stark contrast to their strong showing at the start of the year, where Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Despite this success, former coach Jose Peseiro’s contract was not renewed, leading to his departure after the tournament.
The role of Nigeria’s head coach has historically been one of the most challenging positions in African football, with high expectations from passionate fans and frequent administrative issues.
Labbadia joins a long list of foreign coaches who have led the Super Eagles, including former German World Cup winner Berti Vogts, Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic, and Brazilian Otto Gloria.
 qualifying campaign with a Group D match against neighbors Benin in Uyo.){kind=link}