Garba Lawal Questions NFF’s Decision to Hand Eric Chelle Dual Roles

Former Nigeria midfielder Garba Lawal has joined Finidi George in questioning the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) decision to appoint Eric Chelle as head coach of both the Super Eagles and the Nigeria U-23 national team.

Speaking on the development, Lawal said combining both roles could place unnecessary pressure on the Malian coach, despite acknowledging the potential benefits of overseeing both squads.

“This is very good for Nigeria. Eric Chelle can call up players who perform very well in the Olympics.

“I only fear that Nigeria cannot sustain that $100,000 payment.

“The Super Eagles job is already stressful enough. Don’t add more stress to it because you’re paying him $100,000.

“Tell him your expectations, let him focus on the Super Eagles, and let him get the job done.”

Lawal stressed that his comments should not be interpreted as criticism of Chelle’s coaching ability. Instead, he questioned the wisdom of assigning one coach two demanding national team responsibilities at a time when Nigeria is pursuing qualification for the FIFA World Cup and aiming to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Drawing on a popular Nigerian proverb, Lawal’s argument reflects concerns over workload and performance: “If you give one person two pots to cook, don’t be surprised if one pot gets burnt.”

However, history shows that the dual-role arrangement has worked for Nigeria before. Samson Siasia successfully managed both the Super Eagles and the U-23 team during the build-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Likewise, Dutch coach Joe Bonfrere combined both roles in 1996, guiding Nigeria to Olympic gold while also handling the senior national team without apparent setbacks.

Whether Chelle can replicate those achievements remains to be seen, but the NFF’s decision has already sparked debate among former internationals and Nigerian football fans.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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