Former Super Eagles midfielder Garba Lawal has raised serious concerns over the decision to assign Nigeria’s senior national team coach, Eric Chelle, additional responsibilities with the U-23 national team, warning that managing two crucial assignments simultaneously could prove overwhelming, Sports247.ng reports.
Speaking about the arrangement ahead of the international break, Lawal questioned how Chelle would effectively prepare both teams for important fixtures without compromising their chances of success.
The former Nigerian international insisted that even a short period of overlapping responsibilities could become a major distraction for a coach expected to deliver results at the highest level.
“If it’s one week, it’s still a distraction. You cannot fix him like this,” Lawal declared.
“I don’t know. Even me, I keep on asking myself, the same day the Super Eagles, the same day, how? I keep on asking myself.”
Lawal expressed disbelief over the scheduling challenges, questioning how Chelle could adequately supervise preparations, tactical planning and matchday responsibilities for both national teams.
“I don’t know how he’s going to execute those games. We wait and see. Maybe he’s a magician,” he remarked.
The former midfielder also criticised those responsible for the arrangement, suggesting that the practical difficulties should have been carefully considered before assigning the additional responsibility.
“It’s going to be very, very tough for him. And people that appointed him, they did not think about this,” Lawal stated.
He stressed that the stakes are particularly high, with the Super Eagles facing important continental commitments while the U-23 side pursue qualification for the Olympic Games.
“Both games are very vital and very, very important,” he warned.
Lawal maintained that the situation could place unnecessary pressure on Chelle and affect Nigeria’s preparations for two major competitions.
Despite his reservations, he expressed hope that both national teams would achieve positive results.
“I hope we can win those two games anyway. It’s very, very key. It’s very important,” he concluded.
His concerns have intensified the debate surrounding Nigeria’s national team coaching structure, particularly as the country seeks to balance immediate senior-team objectives with its ambitions of returning to Olympic football.
