Gifted Markson
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially announced the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team.
Labbadia, who becomes the 37th coach in the history of the team, takes over with immediate effect following an approval from the NFF Executive Committee, as confirmed by the Federation’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Dr. Sanusi stated, “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.”
Born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia brings a wealth of experience both as a player and coach. He enjoyed a distinguished playing career that included stints at clubs such as Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga title in 1994, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, and Werder Bremen. His coaching credentials are equally impressive, having managed top Bundesliga sides like Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Bayer Leverkusen. Labbadia also holds a UEFA Pro License, underscoring his technical expertise.
Labbadia’s appointment makes him the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of coaches like Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Notably, Rohr’s tenure saw Nigeria qualify for and compete in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The new coach’s immediate challenge is to prepare the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Nigeria will face Benin Republic on September 7th in Uyo, followed by an away fixture against Rwanda on September 10th in Kigali. These matches are crucial for Nigeria’s quest to secure a spot in the tournament, with four more qualifiers scheduled for October and November.
Labbadia’s appointment adds another chapter to the storied history of Super Eagles’ coaches, a list that includes notable names like Clemens Westerhof, who led Nigeria to their first AFCON title in 1994, and Stephen Keshi, who repeated the feat in 2013.
The football community in Nigeria will be keen to see how Labbadia adapts to his new role and what impact he will have on the Super Eagles as they aim for success on the continental and global stages.