Former Super Eagles midfielder Garba Lawal has taken a firm and contrasting position on the ongoing debate surrounding the future of Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle, insisting that both parties should part ways if they are unable to reach a mutual understanding.
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Speaking in a chat, Lawal said he has not received any official communication from the Nigeria Football Federation regarding the alleged demands being made by the Franco-Malian coach.
However, he maintained that contract terms must be respected, especially when a project is still ongoing.
“If the NFF and the coach cannot find common ground, then it is better for both parties to go their separate ways,” Lawal said. “You cannot continue working together when there is no alignment.”
Lawal played down the weight of Nigeria’s recent Africa Cup of Nations outing, noting that reaching the semi-finals is not unfamiliar territory for the Super Eagles and should not be over-celebrated.
“Reaching the AFCON semi-final is not something new for Nigeria,” he stated. “It is not an achievement that automatically calls for major demands midway into a contract.”
The former international emphasized that negotiations of this nature are typically done either at the start of a project or after winning a major trophy, not in the middle of an existing agreement.
“Demands are usually made when a team wins something tangible or when a new project is about to begin,” Lawal explained. “Not halfway into a stipulated contract.”
He further called on Chelle to respect the terms he originally agreed to, stressing that professionalism must be upheld on both sides.
“If you signed a contract, you must honour it,” he added. “Respect goes both ways, and contracts are meant to bring stability, not distractions.”
Lawal also warned that prolonged uncertainty could negatively affect the team’s progress, especially with key competitions on the horizon.
“This kind of situation can become a distraction to players and the team as a whole,” he said. “The focus should be on preparing properly for future competitions.”
While acknowledging that Chelle has done some positive work with the team, Lawal insisted that continuity should only be based on clear agreement and mutual respect.
“If both sides are comfortable and aligned, then fine,” he concluded. “But if not, it’s better to end things amicably than force a relationship that may not work.”
Lawal’s comments add another strong voice to the growing national conversation around stability, expectations and accountability in the management of the Super Eagles.
