‘NFF Named 40 Super Eagles Players For Bruno Labbadia Before His Appointment’

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has finalized the selection of a provisional Super Eagles squad consisting of 40 players for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Republic of Benin and Rwanda.

The NFF submitted the Super Eagles list to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) several weeks ago to adhere to the deadline.

All called-up players have received their invitation letters in preparation for the upcoming qualifiers, according to Daily Post.

This provisional squad has been presented to the new head coach of the Super Eagles, Bruno Labbadia, who was officially announced as the new handler of the Nigeria national team on Tuesday morning, August 27, 2024.

The 58-year-old German tactician takes over from the NFF’s Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen who was said to be on standby.

Before the appointment of Labbadia, the NFF engaged in discussions with several prominent coaches, including Greece manager Gustavo Poyet, Aitor Karanka, a former assistant to Jose Mourinho, and ex-Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro.

Following talks with Swede Janne Andersson and Frenchman Herve Renard which unfortunately did not end positively, Labbadia emerged as the final choice for the Super Eagles coaching job.

Labbadia’s first assignment as the head coach will be the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin in Uyo on 7 September, followed by another qualifier in Rwanda three days later.