ABUJA – In a significant move, Nigeria has appointed German Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of its men’s football team, amid a year of frequent leadership changes.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Nigeria Football Federation announced the appointment on social media this Tuesday, stating it takes effect immediately, though details on the contract’s duration were not disclosed. Labbadia, who will be stepping into his first coaching role outside Germany, takes over just 12 days before Nigeria begins its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The team is scheduled to face Benin at home in Uyo and will play Rwanda away shortly after.

The 58-year-old Labbadia is known for his extensive coaching experience in the Bundesliga, having managed teams such as Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin. As a former player, he was a prolific scorer with over 200 career goals, including a stint at Bayern Munich. Labbadia succeeds Finidi George, who managed the Nigerian team for four matches earlier this year.