Controversy Trails New Super Eagles Coach, Bruno Labbadia Who Has Been Sacked Nine Times

The appointment of German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, as the Super Eagles coach has sparked controversy due to his history of being sacked nine times.

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Bruno Labbadia‘s immediate appointment as the 37th head coach of the Super Eagles.

Labbadia got the appointment following the resignation of Finidi George just four games into his tenure.

His appointment is seen as a move to improve the team’s chances in upcoming tournaments, including the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Benin Republic on September 7 and Rwanda three days later.

Although Labbadia has extensive experience managing top German clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, and VfB Stuttgart, he has never coached a national team or worked in Africa.

The Former Bayern Munich striker has been dismissed from several managerial positions throughout his career.

His most recent dismissal from VfB Stuttgart after only four months added to concerns about his suitability for the Super Eagles.

The decision to appoint Labbadia was controversial, with some senior officials claiming it was forced on them by NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and sports minister John Enoh, rather than being a collective decision.

Members of the NFF technical committee and board expressed concerns that they were not included in the decision-making process.

The NFF board meeting on Monday, where the president announced Labbadia’s appointment, was brief and didn’t allow for any discussion.

Officials believe that the sports minister likely finalized Labbadia’s appointment during his recent visit to Germany, where he met with the country’s athletes preparing for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris

“This was just a two-man show We did not know what was happening,” one of the senior officials simply told SCORENigeria.

These officials also pointed out that Labbadia’s lack of experience in African football contradicts the NFF’s original requirements for the role.

The NFF’s official statement did not include details of Bruno Labbadia’s contract, such as its duration or his salary, further fueling the controversy.

See some reactions below:

Labbadia took over from Finidi George who resigned after failing to secure significant wins with Super Eagles in two critical matches during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.