Former Nigeria midfielder, Garba Lawal has advised that the NFF and Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, should go their separate ways if the impasse over a new deal lingers.
Speaking in a chat with Brila.net, Lawal said he has not received any official communication from the NFF regarding Chelle’s demands, stressing that much of what has been reported remains speculative.
Lawal, who earned 57 caps for Nigeria, noted that reaching the semi-finals of the AFCON is commendable but not extraordinary.
“Nigeria is a stepping stone. When you coach Nigeria, even if you do it for free, it adds value to your CV. We know his CV is good, and people speak highly of him,” Lawal said.
Lawal reached the AFCON semi-finals four times and insists that such an achievement should not be the basis for making fresh demands midway into an existing contract.
According to Lawal, contractual demands are typically discussed at the beginning of a project or after winning a major trophy not while a contract is still running.
“For me, he has to decide what he wants. He has a contract with the NFF and the federation. If he has made up his mind to leave, then it is better to let him go,” Lawal stated.
The former midfielder added that a coach whose focus is no longer fully on the national team may struggle to give his best.
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“If his mind is no longer in Nigeria, and he stays, it will be difficult for him to give his all. Why didn’t he make those demands at the beginning? Or when the contract expires?
“You cannot be halfway into a contract and start setting conditions for staying longer. Nobody told him to extend they only expect him to respect the agreement he signed,” he concluded.
