Nigerian Football
Bruno Labbadia is Nigeria’s third coach this year
Although as usual and expectedly too, the contract detail of former German international Bruno Labbadia who was Tuesday morning named as Super Eagles manager, is not disclosed.
But the German has become the third appointment to the post this year after Jose Peseiro and Finidi George.
Labbadia takes charge 12 days before Nigeria kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a Group D tie home to neighbours Benin in Uyo. The team also play away in Rwanda three days later.
The 58-year-old, is a seasoned Bundesliga coach with spells at Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin. This will be his first job outside Germany.
He replaces Finidi George, who was in charge for four matches earlier this year.
Labbadia, who won two caps for his country and played as a striker at Bayern Munich among other clubs, will spend the rest of the year focusing on qualifying the Super Eagles for the next Cup of Nations finals, which will be hosted in Morocco in late 2025.
Nigeria are top seeds in a group that also includes Libya, with the top two teams qualifying.
But from next March, the German will have a much tougher task as Nigeria resume World Cup qualifying.
They are winless after their opening four games in African qualifying Group C and sit fifth out of six teams, although they still have another six matches to play in their bid to win the group and take a berth at the 2026 finals in North America
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
The Nigerian Premier Football League burst into life this Sunday with eight matches on the card and contrasting results. Three of the eight matches resulted in away wins signalling level playing field of the league.
It is a sharp departure from the past seasons when it is almost predictable that home teams would win. Remo Stars, Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes have away wins and with scoring multiple goals.
Remo Stars won against Abia Warriors by 2-0. Enyimba came from a goal down to win 3-1 against Heartland while Niger Tornadoes beat Kwara United 2-1 away from home.
- Kwara United 1-2 Niger Tornadoes
- Sunshine 3-0 Bayelsa: Saidu Salisu
- Bendel Insurance 0-0 Rivers United
- Heartland 1-3 Enyimba
- Abia Warriors 0-2 Remo Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Katsina United
- Kano Pillars 3-0 Ikorodu City
- Nasarawa United 1-1 Shooting Stars
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