Lasun Alagbe
If the Super Eagles were a football club, they could be said to be facing relegation as far as the campaign for the 2026 World Cup is concerned. Currently, they are in the fifth place in the six-team Group C, four points adrift of leaders Benin Republic. Unless something close to a miracle happens, Nigeria may thus again miss the World Cup show.
This is the challenge that Bruno Labbadia has accepted to take up as he has been unveiled as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. A seasoned coach and former footballer himself, the German is, interestingly, revered as a game changer when it comes to rescuing clubs from relegation. He, for instance, did so for Hamburg in 2015 and Wolfsburg in 2018. The question, however, is: can he save the currently uninspiring Eagles?
As ‘The Nation’ has highlighted his profile also includes:
Record of mixed results: Labbadia’s managerial career includes both successes and challenges. He has faced multiple sackings, most recently from VfB Stuttgart due to a poor run of results. Nevertheless, his resilience and ability to secure roles at other top clubs reflect his respect in the football community. Nigerian fans can expect a coach who is both risk-taking and experienced in high-level management.
Connection to youth development: Labbadia has a strong track record in developing young talent. At VfL Wolfsburg, he played a key role in nurturing players like Josip Brekalo and John Brooks. His ability to integrate young players into the first team could benefit Nigeria, which boasts a growing pool of talented young footballers.
