By: Balogun Tumininu
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
The announcement was made in the early hours of Tuesday, August 27, and is effective immediately. Labbadia, who becomes the 37th head coach of the senior men’s national team, will lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Labbadia’s appointment comes after the country’s struggles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under former coach Finidi George, who resigned in June. The NFF had previously announced plans to hire a foreign technical director to support George, but ultimately decided to appoint a new head coach instead.
The NFF expressed confidence in Labbadia’s ability to lead the Super Eagles to success, citing his experience and qualifications. Labbadia’s immediate challenge will be to guide the team through the remaining qualifying matches and secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The appointment has been met with mixed reactions from fans and stakeholders, who are eagerly awaiting the team’s performance under the new coach.