Former Nigeria international midfielder Garba Lawal has enjoined the public and press to rally behind coach Eric Sekou Chelle rather than dwelled on the suitability or otherwise of some of the players the Franco-Malian has enlisted for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Chelle on Tuesday unveiled a 39-man Provisional List of players for the must-win encounters but not without scathing comments about the justification of extending invitations to some players including ‘retiring’ Ahmed Musa and struggling Kelechi Iheanacho, among others.
But Lawal is having none of that, adding Chelle has made his choices and it’s left for Nigerians to support the Super Eagles all the way irrespective of the lop-sidedness of the provisional squad.
“ The list has been made, what is the fuss about just talking? He (Chelle) has already presented his list,” Garba, a member of the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation, said matter-of-factly. “The only thing we can do is to wish the players the best of luck .”
He continued: “It is not about saying this one is in and that one is out but what is important is for us to win the games .Whether Mr. A or B is playing doesn’t concern us because we are not the ones to train the players .The coach will try his best, so let us give the coach the chance and see how far he can go.”
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After taking just three points in their opening four matches which perched them in a distant fifth position in Group C, Lawal admitted that there is no time to discuss inanities rather, what the Chelle-led Super Eagles need now is support and focus ‘because all the remaining games are like cup finals.
“ Personally, there is really nothing to talk about that he has presented 39 players; whether you are in or out, you are not important,” the Atlanta 1996 Soccer gold winner, further said in the interview aired on Brila fm. “ One day, everybody would get their chances to represent the country.”
“ The most important thing is for the fans back home is to wish the team the best of luck after all we are not the ones to train the players We have to stand by the coach, he is new and we have to give him a chance .
“ Every game is like a cup final for us now because of the situation we are now ; there is no room for complacency rather let us just focus on the games.
“ We hope they will succeed and that is the most important anyway,” added the midfield Trojan who represented Nigeria at four African Cup of Nations between 2000 and 2006..