Emma Okocha thumbs up Bruno Labbadia's Super Eagles appointment, but acknowledges the tough task at hand

Former Super Eagle Emma Okocha is optimistic of the chances of the Nigeria national team under the new man at the helm Bruno Labbadia, SportsBoom reports.

After months of drawn out search for a new head coach following the departure of ex-boss Finidi George, the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday announced the installment of the former Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen manager.

The news was sudden, and the choice had left both the fans and the media with a poignant feeling, judging that the German was originally not in the picture as one of the candidates touted for the job.

The need to remain positive

Okocha believes Labbadia brings with him a huge wealth of experience and looking at his profile managing top German clubs, there is the need to harbour positive thoughts about his appointment.  

"You have to look at it from the positive side," the 1990 African Cup of Nations campaigner told SportsBoom.

"This position had dragged on for a long time, but we can only now hope the NFF had made the best choice of this appointment."

"He's a well exposed man [Labbadia] and looking at his profile with the German clubsides he's managed previously, Nigerians can get excited. He need to remain calm and focus on the task he's being brought in to fill. Of course, it won't be easy, if you look at the state of the team.

Super Eagles need results, and fast

Labbadia will have to get the team ticking straight away when he resumes duties early next month with a stern test against Benin Republic for the AFCON 2025, a side which bested them the last time they traded tackles for a world cup berth.

Recall that the 2-1 loss in Abidjan contrived with a couple of outcomes leading up to the resignation of Finidi, and there will be no honeymoon judging by the implication of any unsavoury result he chalks up now.

Okocha feels that could just be the only sticking point for the tactician coming into the role, hence the need to get an already jaded fanbase to his side again with a decent performance.

"The only downside of his appointment is that he's come in at a time the team desperately need to get results, so it makes his task a real big one", the former SV Wehen midfielder said.