Bruno Labbadia Takes Charge of Nigeria's National Soccer Team Amid World Cup Campaign

German coach Bruno Labbadia has been appointed to lead Nigeria's national men’s soccer team to revive their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The 58-year-old coach, who has previously managed clubs like Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, will make his debut in the role during the Africa Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda.

In an effort to revitalize its faltering World Cup qualifying campaign, Nigeria has hired German coach Bruno Labbadia to steer the men's national soccer team, effective immediately, according to Nigeria Football Federation general secretary Mohammed Sanusi.

Labbadia, 58, steps into the role having been without a job since April 2023, following his dismissal from Stuttgart after failing to reverse the club's decline. Nigeria, currently second from the bottom in their group, hopes his oversight will result in a turnaround.

Labbadia's first challenges will be the Africa Cup qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, slated for September. His experience includes stints with Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg, and Bayer Leverkusen, and he also had notable success as a player in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern.

(With inputs from agencies.)