Garba Lawal: Iwobi, Chukwueze could rule Africa in the next three years

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal has asserted that the duo of Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze have what it takes to take Africa and the world by the storm in the next two or three years if they stay
consistent and keep on working hard.

Lawal told SportingLife.ng that he was not surprised that no Nigerian made it to the final three of the CAF Player of the Year in the male category after CAF shortlisted the number of players that will vie for the prestigious award to only Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

The ex-defensive midfielder noted that Nigerian players’ lack of consistency like the three remaining players in the running for the grand prize meant that they would continue to play second fiddle to players of other countries on the continent and he added that no player from the country is in the level of the mentioned three players
presently.

He however said that he is seeing something different in the game of Iwobi and Chukwueze and that if they remain relevant for their clubs and are on top of their games they could take over Africa just like Nigerians ruled over the award category in the 90s where we had four players of the country’s origin winning it on five occasions in 1993 (Rasheed Yekini), 1994 (Emmanuel Amuneke), 1996 (Kanu Nwankwo), 1997
(Victor Ikpeba) and 1999 (Kanu Nwankwo).

“I will say that I am not surprised at all with the inability of any our players to make it to the top three of the CAF African Player of the Year because our players have not been in-form consecutively for their clubs,” Lawal told SportingLife,ng.

“They have always struggled to reproduce the performance of previous games because they are not consistent. They must work on themselves and strive to ensure that they compete favourably among the best. They cannot continue to be blowing hot and cold at the same time. They must
try to copy what other players of other countries in Africa are doing that is making them to maintain their form.

“I don’t think we have solution in sight but if we work harder may be in the next two or three years we will be having a change of perspectives regarding it. It is no miracle. Our players must work harder and ensure that they are consistent like their counterparts in Europe.

“I see Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze doing great things for Nigeria very soon may be in the next two or three years if they remain consistent for their clubs. They are doing well presently and they must maintain it.”

The ex-international who also doubles as the Team Manager/ head coach of Nigeria National League side, Real Stars of Kaduna however believes that Asisat Oshoala has a chance to defend the award she won last year as the African Women’s Player of the Year despite strong opposition
from Thembi Kgatlana, the South African who emerged as the Most Valuable Player and highest scorer of the African Women’s Cup of Nations held in Ghana last year and Francesca Ordega who is another
Falcons star.

Lawal argued that Oshoala did well in the year under review for her club in the Chinese League and that even though she didn’t perform to her optimum at the AWCON in Ghana she was still able to score some goals that ensured that the Super Falcons have won the last three
editions of the competition since 2014 when it was hosted by Namibia.

The ex-Eagles midfielder, however, counselled Oshoala who made it into the final three in the women’s category to ensure that she re-adapt her game and strive to rediscover herself again to regain the composure and form that made her the best on the continent on three previous occasions.