From Richard Jideaka, Abuja:
Former Nigeria utility player and currently a member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, Garba Lawal, has said that the 2019 AFCON qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa is a must win for the Super Eagles, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
According to Lawal, the Super Eagles must raise their game beyond they did in recent games to avenge their 2-0 loss to the Bafana Bafana in Uyo in June. Lawal reckons that beating Bafana in their home ground will guarantee Nigeria the ticket to next the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon.
“Rohr has invited players he believes can get the desired result in South Africa, I believe we owe him the duty to support the team to achieve a win. The Eagles cannot afford to be complacent at this stage bearing in mind that they have missed the last two edition of AFCON ” Lawal who is the coach of Real Stars FC of Kaduna told CSN.
“Talent – wise, I think we have the players to beat South Africa before their home crowd, but the coach must get his tactics right and the players must show 100% commitment. The Eagles must try to avoid defeat to qualify ahead of the last game of the the group
“It is unfortunate that the Eagles will be without Mikel Obi and Wilfred Ndidi, but I believe there are players who will step in and perform well. It is an opportunity for players who have been on the fringe to step up and convince the coach on what they are capable of doing,” the Atlanta Olympics gold medalist stressed
Lawal however advised that coach Gernot Rohr should continue his search for more goalkeepers for the Super Eagles, expressing his fears about what happens in a situation of an injury to the first choice, considering that Ikechukwu Ezenwa has not played for his club Enyimba in recent games.