The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team.
The announcement was made early Tuesday by NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who confirmed that the Executive Committee had approved the recommendation from the Technical and Development Sub-Committee for Labbadia’s immediate appointment.
Born in Darmstadt, Germany on February 8, 1966, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team and featuring for several top clubs, including Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
As a coach, Labbadia brings a wealth of experience, having managed prominent Bundesliga clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen.
He holds a UEFA Pro License and is the sixth German to take charge of the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Notably, Höner led Nigeria to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr guided the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate challenge will be to prepare the Super Eagles for two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. The fixtures are scheduled for Saturday, September 7th in Uyo, , and Tuesday, September 10th in Kigali, Rwanda. The Super Eagles will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November to conclude their campaign.
This appointment follows a recent draw against Benin Republic in the qualification race for the 2025 AFCON, placing Nigeria in Group D alongside familiar foes. The Super Eagles will be looking to bounce back after their recent defeat to Benin Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Labbadia’s arrival signals a new chapter for Nigerian football as the team seeks to re-establish itself as a dominant force on the continent.