Former Super Eagles and Esperance winger, Garba Lawal has expressed his support for Eric Chelle as he takes on the role of head coach for Nigeria’s national team, encouraging fans to exercise patience during this transitional phase.
While some critics believe that Chelle didn’t have the pedigree to coach the Super Eagles despite leading the Mali national team to the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Garba Lawal stressed that renowned coaches like Jose Mourinho of Fernebech and Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid might also be subjected to pressure as the national team coach.
Recall that the Nigeria Football Federation officially appointed Chelle as Super Eagles coach earlier this month, assigning him the vital task of steering Nigeria towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the Super Eagles’ challenging start to the qualifiers—having not secured a win in their first four matches—Lawal remains optimistic about Chelle’s potential for success.
He urged supporters to stand by the new manager as he embarks on this crucial journey.
“There is no room for complacency. This is not about the NFF; it’s about Nigeria qualifying for the World Cup. Everyone must support the team. Even if Mourinho or Ancelotti took this job, they would still feel the pressure”, Garba Lawal told Brila FM.
“Our situation can make the coach afraid, but for him to be bold enough to take the job, it is something different. It’s not every coach that will take this type of job. It takes courage to take on a role like this, given the current circumstances.”
