Bruno Labbadia is working as national coach for the first time. According to the national football association, the former striker and Bundesliga coach is taking over responsibility for the Nigerian team.
Labbadia will make his debut in his new role the Saturday after next in the qualifier for the Africa Cup against Benin. However, the 58-year-old German will have even more important dates with his team in the qualifiers for the next World Cup. After four of ten matches, Nigeria are only in fifth place in their group. Only the winners of the nine groups are guaranteed a place in two years' time in the USA, Canada and Mexico. The four best runners-up can secure a starting place via play-offs.
In the Bundesliga, Labbadia worked at Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Stuttgart, among others. He has been without a job since being sacked by the Swabians in April last year.
SDA
