Garba Lawal, former Nigeria international and Olympic gold medallist, has publicly declared his desire to manage the Super Eagles, signaling interest in taking over from current head coach Eric Chelle – www.isagoal.com reports.
The news broke during a chat with PSN, where Lawal stated, “I aspire to coach the Super Eagles… with self-belief, confidence, and God’s grace, anything is possible.”
Chelle, appointed just this January, is already facing criticism as Nigeria trails South Africa by six points in the Group C standings of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
With only one automatic qualification slot per group, Nigeria’s slow start puts immense pressure on Chelle heading into September’s must-win clashes against Rwanda and South Africa.
Though Chelle led the team to an undefeated streak in his first five outings and lifted the Unity Cup in London, results in the qualifiers may determine his future.
Lawal, now the General Manager at Kada Warriors in the NNL, still plays an active role in Nigeria’s football scene and occasionally advises on technical matters.
“If I notice something a coach misses, I let him know. I’ve worked within the NFF’s technical department before,” Lawal added, referencing his background.
His extensive career saw him play in leagues across Europe, North Africa, and Asia before retiring in Nigeria, where he took up coaching with Lobi Stars in 2009.
By 2014, he had risen to General Manager of Kaduna United, following a stint as Lobi Stars’ assistant coach, building experience off the pitch.
During his playing years, Lawal featured in two FIFA World Cups and won gold at Atlanta 1996, appearing in four AFCON tournaments and scoring in three of them.
His 57 international caps and six goals earned him status among Nigeria’s golden generation, known for his flexibility across midfield and defense.
Despite his credentials, Lawal may face stiff competition and high expectations if given the Super Eagles job, as shown by the recent struggles of Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke.
This article was updated 16 hours ago