Dr. Sanusi stated, "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."

Born on February 8, 1966, in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a successful playing career that saw him feature for clubs such as Hamburger SV, Bayern Munich, and FC Cologne. He earned two caps for the German national team, Die Mannschaft, and was part of the Bayern Munich squad that won the Bundesliga title in 1994.

Labbadia's coaching career has been equally distinguished. He has managed several top German clubs, including Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen. With a UEFA Pro License, he brings a wealth of experience to the Super Eagles.

Labbadia becomes the sixth German to take charge of Nigeria’s national team, following in the footsteps of predecessors such as Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Notably, Höner led the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr guided Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.