Nigeria has named Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the senior national team, the Super Eagles.
Labbadia, 58, brings over two decades of coaching experience, having managed several top German clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday, confirmed Labbadia’s appointment, marking him as Nigeria’s third head coach this year.
José Peseiro, who led the team during the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), left his post earlier, followed by the resignation of his successor, Finidi George, this past summer.
“The NFF executive committee has approved the recommendation of its technical and development sub-committee to appoint Bruno Labbadia as the head coach of the Super Eagles,” said NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi in a statement.
“The appointment is with immediate effect.”
As a player, Labbadia scored over 200 goals in Germany’s top two divisions, including a successful stint with Bayern Munich, where he clinched the Bundesliga title in 1994. His most recent coaching role was with Stuttgart, which he left in April 2023.
Labbadia’s first assignment will be to lead Nigeria in an Afcon qualifier against Benin at home on September 7, followed by an away fixture against Rwanda three days later.
Nigeria’s campaign for the 2026 Fifa World Cup will continue in March 2025, with the team currently holding just three points from their first four qualifiers.
