Nigeria have appointed Bruno Labbadia as the national senior men’s new head coach with immediate effect to spearhead their 2025 AFCON & 2026 World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Labbadia, 58, is a German coach who has been roped in for the Super Eagles job after talks with the likes of Janne Andersson and Herve Renard are said to have broken down. South African tactician Pitso Mosimane was also linked the Nigeria hotseat but doesn’t seem to have made the shortlist.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) confirmed Labbadia’s appointment as their 37th head coach and the sixth German to take charge of the Super Eagles.
“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,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi stated.
Nigeria recently parted ways with Finidi George who resigned from his position in the wake of the NFF announcing plans to employ a foreign technical advisor. George took charge of just two matches and was winless in both – a 1-1 draw with South Africa and 2-1 defeat at the hands of Benin.
His first assignment will be an AFCON qualifier against Benin on September 7 before they travel for an away match in Rwanda three days later.
