The 58-year-old German was chosen by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after talks with other potential candidates, including Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Herve Renard, fell through.
While Labbadia's contract has yet to be signed, he is set to take charge of his first game in a crucial AFCON qualifier against Benin in Uyo on September 7, followed by a match against Rwanda three days later.
Labbadia was one of several candidates considered for the role, alongside Gustavo Poyet, Aitor Karanka, and Fabio Cannavaro. The NFF had initially been in advanced discussions with Andersson, who seemed poised to take the position, but personal commitments delayed his availability until November. Renard, a two-time AFCON winner, had also been in the running but failed to finalize his contract, forcing the NFF to explore other options.
Despite these setbacks, Labbadia emerged as the preferred choice due to his extensive experience in European football, having managed clubs like Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg, Hamburg, and Bayer Leverkusen.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi confirmed the appointment, stating, “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."
Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of previous coaches like Berti Vogts and Gernot Rohr. However, he faces significant challenges, including high expectations in what has turned out to be a more difficult World Cup qualifying campaign than anticipated. Nigeria currently trails Rwanda in Group C, with only Zimbabwe faring worse.
Additionally, Labbadia will need to address several longstanding issues within the team, such as the lack of a permanent home ground, inadequate training facilities, and ongoing disputes over unpaid player allowances and match bonuses. Despite these hurdles, Labbadia is expected to deliver immediate results as Nigeria aims to qualify for both the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup.
