NFF appoints Labbadia as Super Eagles’ new head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the decision to appoint Bruno Labbadia early on Tuesday morning as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

Since the resignation of Finidi George in June, the Super Eagles has been without a head coach and looked to be turning to Technical Director, Austine Eguavoan before Labbadia’s appointment.

The appointment of Bruno Labbadia was confirmed by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Dr. Mohammed 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 NFF General Secretary also confirmed that the German Gaffer has agreed on the appointment with immediate effect, as the Super Eagles prepares for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The appointment makes the German the 37th head coach of the Nigerian senior team and the 16th foreign coach of the Super Eagles.

The former Bayern Munich striker has previously managed Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin, Hamburger SV, Wolfsburg and recently left VfB Stuttgart in April 2023.

During his playing times, he featured for FC Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, and Bayern Munich, winning the DFB-Pokal with FC Kaiserslautern and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. He also earned two caps for Germany before retiring in 2003.

However, the 58-year-old German will be in charge as the three-time African champions plays Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo and Rwanda, September 10, in Kigali.