Bruno Labbadia Appointed as Nigeria's New National Team Coach

Former German international Bruno Labbadia has been named as Nigeria’s new football coach. Labbadia, a seasoned Bundesliga coach, takes on his first job outside Germany. He replaces Finidi George and will focus on qualifying Nigeria for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup.

Former German international Bruno Labbadia has taken the reins as Nigeria's new football coach, marking the third appointment to the post this year.

The Nigeria Football Federation announced on social media that Labbadia's appointment is effective immediately, although specifics of the contract were not disclosed. His tenure begins just 12 days before Nigeria starts its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a Group D match against Benin in Uyo.

Labbadia, aged 58, brings a wealth of Bundesliga experience, with past coaching spells at Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin. This role marks his first foray outside Germany. He replaces Finidi George, who served a short stint as coach earlier this year.

The former Bayern Munich striker, who earned two caps for Germany, will concentrate initially on securing Nigeria's place in the upcoming Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in late 2025. Nigeria, the top seeds in their group, will also face Libya, with the two best teams progressing.

Starting next March, Labbadia will face a sterner test as Nigeria resumes World Cup qualifying. Despite a promising run to the Cup of Nations final earlier this year, Nigeria is winless in their first four matches in Group C for the Africa qualifiers and currently sits fifth in the standings.

Nigeria's previous Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro, left after his contract was not renewed following a strong showing at the 2023 Cup of Nations. The coaching position in Nigeria is notoriously demanding, having seen a roster of foreign coaches including Berti Vogts and Bora Milutinovic. Nigeria, three-time African champions, has qualified for six of the last eight World Cups but missed the recent tournament in Qatar.

(With inputs from agencies.)