Just as the Nigeria Football Federation is set to renew coach Stephen Keshi’s contract amidst public displeasure over his performance, former Super Eagles’ combative midfielder Garba Lawal has hinted that his former captain may not be the best man for the job.
Lawal argued that Keshi failed with the team because he lost the confidence of his key players, adding that overhauling the team will not guarantee good results in future.
There have been insinuations that some players failed to show commitment in the Super Eagles’ last qualification match against South Africa in Uyo. But according to Lawal, Keshi simply lost his dressing room and that was why Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations billed for Equatorial Guinea.
“The moment you lose the dressing room, I believe you have gotten it wrong and there is no way you can fix it. So if your dressing room is good, then you’re fine. If the dressing room is bad and if you cannot control your dressing room, then forget it, you will get it wrong,” Lawal said.
NFF president Amaju Pinnick hinted during the week that Keshi will be sent for a refresher course in Europe to prepare him for the task of rebuilding the team. He added that ex-internationals Austin Okocha, Yisa Sofoluwe and others will also be sent to study match analysis so as to help Keshi in the course of his job.
Lawal who was appointed as Super Eagles co-ordinator, but was rejected by Keshi said a new coach will do well with the team.
“Another coach could come and give new players the chance to play and do well while another coach could come in and use the same set of players and succeed, it all depends on how you take them on and how you talk to them.”
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
