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Ekong, Aina, Simon, Ndidi, 19 others to battle Benin Republic, Rwanda
Newly appointed Super Eagles coach, Bruno Labbadia sacked nine times will be the sixth German to lead the three-time African champions.
He follows Karl-Heinz Marotzke who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008), and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021).
Höner led the Super Eagles to the runner-up position at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia while leading the team to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Labbadia is also the 37th coach was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday after months of anxious wait after the resignation of Finidi George.
The former Bayern Munich striker has faced multiple dismissals throughout his managerial career, most recently from VfB Stuttgart due to poor performance. Known as a “relegation specialist,” the ex-Werder Bremen star has built a reputation for rescuing clubs from the brink, showcasing his ability to stabilize teams in challenging situations.
Announcing the appointment, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed stated that the NFF Executive Committee approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee.
“The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect,” he said.
He is a former German international with experience coaching top clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin, and VfB Stuttgart.
The highly experienced Bruno Labbadia was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on February 8, 1966 and holds a UEFA Pro License. During his playing career, he made two appearances for the German national team (Die Mannschaft).
He played for clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. He won the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich as a player in 1994.
Meanwhile, Captain William Ekong, wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi have returned to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Ekong, the AFCON 2023 Man-of-the-Competition, missed the June World Cup qualifiers due to injury, while Aina, Awoniyi, and reigning Africa Player of the Year Osimhen were also sidelined.
The squad includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards, with notable returns from Bendel Insurance’s Amas Obasogie and South Africa-based defender Olisa Ndah.
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic on 7th September in Uyo, followed by a match against Rwanda in Kigali on 10th September, with all players expected to report in Uyo by 2nd September.
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