August 27, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, marking him as the 37th coach to lead Nigeria’s senior men’s national team. While the NFF Executive Committee has endorsed his appointment, Labbadia’s selection has raised eyebrows due to several concerns about his credentials and suitability for the role.
The 58-year-old, known in German football circles, has managed several Bundesliga clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg SV, and VfB Stuttgart. Despite his extensive experience in Germany, Labbadia has no prior experience in African football. Moreover, his managerial career, though long, has been marked by a lack of major trophies. His most notable achievements have been keeping teams afloat in the Bundesliga, rather than leading them to silverware, which has led some critics to question his ability to inspire a team with the rich history and expectations of the Super Eagles.
Adding to these is the fact that the NFF took several months to arrive at this decision, yet still ended up with a coach who, for many, lacks the inspirational pull that Nigerian fans were hoping for. The long delay in naming a new coach had built up expectations of a high-profile appointment, perhaps with a proven record on the international stage or within African football. Instead, the choice of Labbadia, a relative unknown outside Germany with no trophies to his name, has left many questioning the decision-making process within the NFF.
Labbadia’s recent track record does little to dispel these concerns. His last managerial role with VfB Stuttgart ended in April 2023 after just four months, during which the club struggled under his leadership. Given this background, Nigerian football enthusiasts are understandably wary of whether Labbadia has what it takes to lead the Super Eagles to success in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
However, the appointment has been made and Labbadia will step into this new role and will need to quickly win over a sceptical fanbase and demonstrate that his experience in European football can translate into tangible success on the African continent. The pressure is on for him to prove that he is the right choice for one of Africa’s most storied football teams.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
