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By Bosun Adeyemi
Former Super Eagles winger and 1996 Olympic gold‑medallist Garba Lawal has recalled that his generation often played for Nigeria without receiving match bonuses, relying instead on commitment, dedication and patriotism. Speaking to journalists over the weekend in Ilorin, Lawal said the team deliberately kept internal disputes with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) – then known as the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) – out of the public eye to maintain focus on the pitch.
“During my playing days there was no NFF as you know it today. We didn’t discuss the challenges we faced with the federation; it was left to the players to deliver,” Lawal said. “We played without bonuses, but we gave our all because representing Nigeria was a duty, not a transaction.”
Lawal, who earned 56 caps and scored six goals for the national team, retired from active football in August 2009 and later served as a player‑coach for Lobi Stars of Makurdi. He is now manager of Kaduna‑based Nigeria National League club Kada Warriors.
Turning to the present, Lawal criticized some current Super Eagles players for demanding payment before matches and then failing to produce results. “We hear statements like, ‘I won’t play the playoffs or finals until the NFF pays me.’ When the money is eventually gathered and paid, the result is still a failure,” he added.
He urged fans to judge players by their conduct on the field rather than words. “Apology is not accepted with words. When you want to apologise, die on the field of play. Show character on the field,” Lawal said, stressing that Nigerians will accept defeat if the team demonstrates passion and heart.
“You can lose sometimes, but play with your heart. If you play with your heart, even when Nigerians are angry, they will say, ‘Don’t worry, you played well.’ But they don’t do that, and that is why Nigerians are angry,” he concluded.
