Bruno Labbadia Named Nigeria's Men's National Coach

Nigeria has appointed Bruno Labbadia, the former Stuttgart boss, as the new head coach of the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The 58-year-old German was chosen after negotiations with Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Herve Renard fell through, with Labbadia's first match set against Rwanda on September 7. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that while a contract is yet to be signed, Labbadia is the preferred candidate among several interviewed, including Gustavo Poyet and Fabio Cannavaro. This decision comes after the resignation of Finidi George, who left due to a poor start in World Cup qualification. Labbadia becomes the sixth German to coach Nigeria, aiming to lead the team successfully through their upcoming qualifiers. The NFF expressed their belief in Labbadia’s capabilities following the recent failures to secure a new coach promptly.