By Milcah Tanimu

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has shed light on the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) choice of Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the national team. Labbadia, a former Bayern Munich striker, is set to be the sixth German to manage the Super Eagles, joining the ranks of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr himself.

Labbadia’s coaching career spans clubs like Darmstadt 98, Greuther Fürth, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, and Hertha BSC. His role with the Super Eagles marks his first managerial position outside Germany.

Rohr emphasized the tradition and success of German coaches with Nigerian teams, stating, “The German coaches have always done a first-class job, and their reputation in Nigeria is strong. This is likely why they opted for a German coach again.”

The new coach is expected to take charge for the Super Eagles’ upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, starting with a home game against Benin on September 2 and a subsequent match in Rwanda on September 10. Labbadia has been tasked with leading Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup and securing qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Rohr acknowledged the pressure on Labbadia, given Nigeria’s current standing in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, where they are fifth, trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin. “There is a lot of pressure on Bruno, as Nigeria is eager to reach the 2026 World Cup,” Rohr noted.

Despite Labbadia’s limited experience with African football, Rohr expressed confidence in his fellow German’s ability to adapt, praising his English language skills as a significant asset. “Bruno speaks English, which will help him adjust to his new role. Nigeria has the best players in Africa, though there are organizational challenges.”

Labbadia, who was dismissed from VfB Stuttgart in 2023, faces a challenging task, but Rohr is hopeful that the new coach will be well-supported and successful in his tenure.