By Tony Ubani

Former international, Garba Lawal has hit hard on Super Eagles players blaming them for their lack of quality that has seen Nigeria fail to qualify for Africa’s football showpiece, the African Cup of Nations back to back.

Lawal was dismayed more with their lack of bite in their last game against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Alexandria that made him cringe in shame to think it was the once dreaded Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Garba-Lawal

”Its a shame to know that Nigeria will not be playing in the African Cup of Nations in Gabon next year but the basic truth is that the players we have aren’t good enough. Look back at the match. They did not play like people who were hungry for the maximum points.

“The truth is that we are deluding ourselves that we have a team. We don’t. There are no special players who can lift a team unlike what we had in Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Keshi”, Lawal whose goal at France ’98 retired Spanish goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta after Nigeria beat Spain 3-2 said.

Lawal, however, fumed at calls by some Nigerians that FA President, Melvin Pinnick Amaju should throw in the towel for not qualifying Nigeria for the Nations Cup back to back.

”People are blaming Pinnick and calling for his resignation. Pinnick should be commended and not condemned. He provided the best enabling environment for the players but they could not go beyond their capacity. Others blame Pinnick for taking the first leg match against Egypt to Kaduna. Is Kaduna not part of Nigeria? If I talk, they’ll say this Mallam has started. We should stop making inflammatory statements and focus on the way forward. And the way forward is to start early and focus on the World Cup qualifiers. We have some young players in the team that can still carry the flag of Nigeria high. Let’s stop crying over split milk and move forward to build a stronger national team”, Lawal emphasised.