The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ended its search for a new head coach with the appointment of Bruno Labbadia as the new gaffer for the Super Eagles.

In a statement, the NFF announced the appointment of the 58-year-old German tactician in the early hours of Tuesday, August 27.

The former Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart manager will replace Finidi George, who resigned from the role in June after just two games in charge.

Recent reports indicate that the NFF went to great lengths to secure the services of a world-class coach to lead the team.

According to BBC Sport, Aitor Karanka, former Jose Mourinho's assistant coach at Real Madrid was among the candidates the NFF contacted for the vacant role.

Other candidates include former Italy captain and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, and Greece manager Gustavo Poyet.

The NFF also held talks with Frenchman Herve Renard, who was widely linked to the vacant role and, Swede Janne Andersson.

Talks with Renard and Anderson reportedly collapsed leading to the appointment of Bruno Labbadia.

Labbadia will be tasked with leading the Super Eagles in the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.