Former Nigeria midfielder Garba Lawal has attributed the mixed results in recent international outings on lack of maturity and character on the part of the players. The former African champions lost 1-0 at home to Uganda before being forced to a 1-1 draw by the South African national team in Nelspruit on Sunday.
He lamented the inability of Daniel Amokachi’s men to beat Bafana Bafana despite going a goal up with less than five minutes to the end of the game, insisting that the country’s senior national team are far from super.
“Football is about winning. We defeated South Africa easily both home and away in international matches especially in qualifiers but that has changed as we now play a draw with them. Anyway, If Uganda could secure a win in Nigeria, then playing a draw against Bafana Bafana means we were very lucky and I don’t really know where we are going," Lawal told Goal.
Assessing the performance of Nigeria players against Uganda in Uyo, the former Levski Sofia midfielder said it was nothing to write home about.
“The national team coaches have a reason for inviting them and know what they want to achieve. But of a truth, our boys played below average against the Cranes as everybody saw in that game,” he continued.
“I don’t know what is really happening to our senior national team because I can’t see the maturity and character. In football, attitude and discipline are very important but these ingredients are lacking in our national team as we saw against Uganda. I don’t know where we are going and that is really bad."
He suggested that attention should be given to domestic league-based professionals as a way forward for making the Super Eagles strong again.
“I have been in this game for long and the round leather game is all about continuity and winning. That has been the main problem. I think if we can face our local based players, I believe we can raise a solid team from there,” he added.
“When it comes to the foreign-based players, they have a lot of experience but play for the national team as if nothing is at stake as there is no zeal in them.
“Those days when you put on the green and white jersey, it’s always like a do or die affair but that has not been happening today. And this gives me great concern and I keep asking if focusing our attention on the home eagles will be the answer.
“As a way forward, if the foreign-based are not showing enough seriousness, I think we have to look for other options.
"It would not be a bad idea focusing on our local league players towards raising a strong national team but all depends on what the coaches need,” he concluded.