Boluwatife Kehinde
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal, has criticised the national team for what he described as “joking” with Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the players reportedly boycotted training over unpaid bonuses.
According to Sports247, the Super Eagles skipped Tuesday’s training session to protest the non-payment of allowances allegedly owed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) since 2019.
The players were also said to have demanded a special bonus for participating in the World Cup qualification play-offs in Morocco.
Lawal, a versatile player during his time with the national team, faulted the timing of the protest, warning that such distractions could jeopardize Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
“Nigeria is a country blessed with a lot of good players. So, when you’re called upon or lucky to be there, you should grab the opportunity,” Lawal said.
“There should be no complacency, especially in a crucial situation like this. If we really want to be at the World Cup, we can’t afford to joke with it. Nigeria is bigger than that.”.
