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Garba Lawal Urges Fact-Finding Committee to Probe National Team Player Selection
Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has urged the Fact-finding Committee on Nigeria Football Setbacks, led by Ambassador Fanny Amun, to thoroughly investigate the process of selecting players for the country’s national teams.
Lawal stressed that player selection and discipline within the national team camps should be among the committee’s key areas of focus as it seeks to identify the factors behind Nigeria’s recent poor results.
“First, they have to look into the players selected by the coaches. Those are key. Then you find out if there is discipline in camp,” Lawal told Brila FM.
He argued that a lack of discipline among players could undermine the organisation and effectiveness of the team, regardless of the structures put in place by the football authorities.
“If there is discipline in camp, then the organisation will come in, but if there is no discipline among the group, that’s where the problem is,” he added.
Lawal also emphasised the importance of unity among players, noting that national team football should be driven by a shared commitment to representing Nigeria rather than individual interests.
“They are not playing for themselves but for the nation. As a coach, if a player is not ready to play for the nation, he or she can be taken out because the focus is to get results,” he said.
The former international further noted that poor results ultimately put everyone involved under scrutiny, making it necessary for the committee to identify and address the underlying problems.
“When the results are bad, the hammer goes on everyone. Maybe it is now the time to correct those mistakes,” Lawal concluded.
