The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi confirmed on Tuesday morning that the engagement is with immediate effect, although the duration of the contract was not revealed.
Dr. Sanusi said; “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.”
The 58-year-old succeeds Finidi George, who vacated the Super Eagles role in June after disappointing results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
Labbadia, who holds a UEFA Pro License becomes the 37th Coach of the three-time African champions.
His immediate task is to take charge of the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7 in Uyo, and against Rwanda in Kigali on Tuesday, September 10.
Expectedly, his target will be to guide Nigeria to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Capped two times by the German senior national team, Labbadia also defended the colours of home-town team Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC.
He coached Hertha Berlin and Stuttgart in the current decade, and also previously handled Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen among others.
He becomes the sixth German to coach the Super Eagles after Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Goller, Manfred Honer, Berti Vogts and Gernot Rohr.
