“He is a good coach” — Rohr gives his rating on Bruno Labbadia

The Super Eagles and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) faces unchartered waters with the hiring of German coach Bruno Labbadia to head the Nigeria national team’s affairs leading to the next AFCON and World Cup tournament. However, former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has given a few cents on the appointment.

With the 58-year-0ld now standing as the sixth German to take the reins of the three-time African champions, Rohr, who led the Super Eagles from 2016 to 2021, believes Labbadia has what it takes to make an immediate impact.

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“He’s a very good coach, I hope he’s well treated by the NFF and Nigerian fans,” Rohr shared in an interview with SCORENigeria. Known for his extensive experience in the Bundesliga, Labbadia faces the challenge of quickly adapting to the unique football landscape in Nigeria—a challenge Rohr is all too familiar with.

“I hope he quickly finds his way in Nigeria, which is a different environment,” Rohr added, hinting at the pressures that come with coaching one of Africa’s most passionate football nations.

The new chapter for Labbadia begins with a high-stakes test as the Super Eagles prepare to face Benin Republic in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on September 7 in Uyo. In a twist of fate, Labbadia will square off against Rohr, now managing the Benin Republic, setting the stage for a fascinating clash of German tacticians on African soil.

The question on everyone’s mind: Can Labbadia handle the heat of Nigerian football and live up to the expectations?

There are some concerns however, considering Bruno Labbadia last season guided his team Vfb Stuttgart to relegation, and Nigeria will be his first foray into international management.