FULL LIST: Nigeria’s Super Eagles Head Coaches From 1949 Till 2024

Published

1 year ago

August 27, 2024

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday, August 27, approved the appointment of German coach Bruno Labbadia as the 37th head coach of the Super Eagles.

The decision followed the resignation of Finidi George.

Labbadia will lead the Super Eagles as they gear up for the 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Since 1949, Nigeria has seen a total of 37 head coaches for its national football team.

Below is the full list of the former Super Eagles coaches:

1. John Finch (England) – 1949

2. Daniel Anyiam (Nigeria) – 1954-1956; 1964-1965

3. Les Courtier (England) – 1956-1960

4. Moshe Beit Halevi (Israel) – 1960-1961

5. George Vardar (Hungary) – 1961-1963

6. Joey Blackwell (England) – 1963–1964

7. József Ember (Hungary) – 1965-1968

8. Sabino Barinaga (Spain) – 1968-1969

9. Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina (Nigeria) – 1969-1970

10. Karl-Heinz Marotzke (Germany) – 1970-1971; 1974

11. Jorge Penna (Brazil) – 1972-1973

12. Jelisavčić ‘Father Tiko’ Tihomir (Yugoslavia) – 1974-1978

13. Otto Glória (Brazil) – 1979-1982

14. Gottlieb Göller (Germany) – 1981

15. Adegboye Onigbinde (Nigeria) – 1983-1984; 2002

16. Chris Udemezue (Nigeria) – 1984-1986

17. Patrick Ekeji (Nigeria) – 1985

18. Paul Hamilton (Nigeria) – 1987; 1989

19. Manfred Höner (Germany) – 1988-1989

20. Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands) – 1989-1994

21. Amodu Shaibu (Nigeria) – 1994-1995; 1996-1997; 2001-2002; 2008-2010

22. Johannes Bonfrere (Netherlands) – 1995-1996; 1999-2001

23. Philippe Troussier (France) – 1997

24. Monday Sinclair (Nigeria) – 1997-1998

25. Bora Milutinović (Yugoslavia) – 1998

26. Thijs Libregts (Netherlands) – 1999

27. Christian Chukwu (Nigeria) – 2002-2005

28. Augustine Eguavoen (Nigeria) – 2005-2007; 2010; 2022

29. Berti Vogts (Germany) – 2007-2008

30. Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) – 2010

31. Samson Siasia (Nigeria) – 2010-2011; 2016

32. Stephen Keshi (Nigeria) – 2011-2014; 2015

33. Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria) – 2015-2016

34. Gernot Rohr (Germany) – 2016-2021

35. José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022-2024

36. Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024

37. Bruno Labbadia (Germany) – 2024-present

The latest addition to the Super Eagles’ coaching staff is German coach Bruno Labbadia, who assumed the role in August 2024.

Labbadia is the sixth German to manage the team, following Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr.
NATION

AFCON 2025: Lookman Scores Winner As Super Eagles Start Campaign With 2–1 Victory Over Tanzania

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Ademola Lookman scored what proved to be the decisive goal as Nigeria beat Tanzania 2-1 in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles came into the match as heavy favourites to win and dominated the opening exchanges.

After coming close a few times, the three-time champions took the lead through Semi Ajayi.

The ball was recycled following a corner-kick, before Alex Iwobi crossed it into the area for Ajayi to head home.

Tanzania equalized after Charles M’Mombwa found himself unmarked inside the area.

But two minutes later, Nigeria struck the winner through Lookman, who took a few touches and finished with his left foot.

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

3 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.