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Garba Lawal warns Super Eagles: “Intercontinental Playoff route is tough and unpredictable”
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has cautioned the Super Eagles to brace for a difficult challenge in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the Intercontinental Playoff route as “tough and unpredictable.”
Speaking with Brila.net, the former midfielder said it would have been much easier for Nigeria to secure direct qualification through the African group stage than to face the longer, more uncertain playoff process.
“It’s very tough,” Lawal said. “It would have been better if we had qualified through the normal way than going through this long route. It’s not straightforward — after winning in Africa, you still have to play a team from Asia or South America. Even if you win the CAF playoff, you must also win the global one. It’s not a small task at all.”
Lawal, who represented Nigeria at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, expressed concern about the growing competitiveness of African football, warning that Gabon could pose a major threat to Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
“I don’t write Gabon off; they’re a very good and organized team,” he said. “In football, if you’re not organized, even with the best players, the team won’t function well. Every team in Africa is improving.”
The Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medallist also drew from his recent work with the WAFU B Technical Study Group in Abidjan, highlighting the rapid development of youth teams across the continent.
“When I watched Niger’s U17 team play Ghana in the semi-final, they were better until a red card cost them. That shows how competitive African football has become,” he explained.
Lawal further commented on Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 prospects, warning the Super Eagles against underestimating their group opponents, including Lesotho and Uganda.
“Our group isn’t easy. Some people said Lesotho would be easy, but we struggled to beat them 2–1. Uganda are even stronger. There are no easy games in African football,” he stressed.
With 57 international caps and appearances in four AFCON tournaments, Lawal emphasized that consistent preparation and focus will be key if Nigeria hopes to succeed both on the continent and globally.
“Success in Africa now requires preparation, focus, and consistency,” he concluded.
