The story of how Bruno Labbadia beat Janne Anderson to Super Eagles job
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, appointed Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, beating competition from Swedish gaffer, Janne Anderson.
Whereas Janne Anderson’s name was widely reported as favourite for the job, German coach Bruno Labbadia got the job in what represents a surprising twist.
The appointment of Labbadia comes two months after current Rivers United coach Finidi George resigned from the position.
Labbadia, who has been out of football action since his departure from VfB Stuttgart in April 2023 will immediately lead Nigeria’s national team’s push to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The NFF had been considering several high-profile candidates for the role, including former French Women’s national team coach Hervé Renard and ex-Swedish national team coach Janne Andersson.
Andersson had shown interest in the position, noting the opportunity to manage a prominent African team with significant talent.
Other candidates reportedly linked to the role were Gustavo Poyet, Aitor Karanka, and Fabio Cannavaro.
In the last week, Janne Andersson was considered the frontrunner, with plans for his compatriot Peter Wettergren to serve as his assistant.
However, Andersson’s availability was delayed until November due to personal commitments, which complicated his candidacy for the role.
As the Super Eagles’ next match in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers approaches in September, the NFF accelerated its discussions with other candidates, ultimately selecting Labbadia.
The German coach was chosen for his extensive managerial experience and his UEFA Pro License. His previous roles include managing well-known clubs like Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg, Hamburg, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Labbadia’s immediate challenge will be to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming AFCON qualifying match against Benin in September.
The NFF is hopeful that his appointment will inject new energy into the team and lead to success, especially in the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers like in the days of his compatriot Genot Rohr.
