Garba Lawal

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Garba Lawal

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|22}}

| birth_place = Kaduna, Nigeria

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Winger

| currentclub = Kaduna United (general manager)

| years1 = 1993–1995

| clubs1 = Julius Berger

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1995–1996

| clubs2 = Espérance ST

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1997–2002

| clubs3 = Roda

| caps3 = 155

| goals3 = 20

| years4 = 2002–2003

| clubs4 = Levski Sofia

| caps4 = 15

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2004

| clubs5 = Elfsborg

| caps5 = 12

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2004–2005

| clubs6 = Santa Clara

| caps6 = 16

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2005–2006

| clubs7 = Iraklis

| caps7 = 33

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2007

| clubs8 = Changsha Ginde

| caps8 = 3

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2007

| clubs9 = Julius Berger

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| years10 = 2009–2012

| clubs10 = Lobi Stars

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| nationalyears1 = 1996

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U23

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2000

| nationalteam2 = Nigeria Olympic (O.P.)

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 1997–2006

| nationalteam3 = Nigeria[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/glawal-intl.html Garba Lawal - International Appearances]

| nationalcaps3 = 57

| nationalgoals3 = 6

| manageryears1 = 2009–2013

| managerclubs1 = Lobi Stars (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2009

| managerclubs2 = Nigeria U17 (team coordinator)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{NGA}}}}

}}

Garba Lawal (born 22 May 1974) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a winger. From 2014 to 2015, he was general manager at Kaduna United. He is with the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Club career

As a player, Lawal had his most successful time at Roda JC in the Eredivisie, in the Netherlands. He also played for Julius Berger F.C. in Nigeria and Chinese side Changsha Ginde.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalfootballteams.com/v2/player.php?id=4960|title=Garba Lawal|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|website=www.nationalfootballteams.com|language=en|access-date=14 May 2018|archive-date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219190645/http://www.nationalfootballteams.com/v2/player.php?id=4960|url-status=dead}}

In August 2009, he announced his return as a player-coach for Makurdi side Lobi Stars,{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/09/28/1528863/lobi-stars-garba-lawal-admits-first-match-in-two-years-took-toll-|title=Lobi Stars' Garba Lawal Admits First Match In Two Years Took Toll On Him {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=14 May 2018}} He was named general manager of Kaduna United in February 2014.

International career

Lawal is regarded as one of the most versatile players in the Nigeria national team of the 1990s and early 2000s often being used for any position ranging from defence to attack on the left wing. Lawal took part at the FIFA World Cups in 1998, where he played a key role in the 3–2 win over Spain in Nigeria's first match of the tournament,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/worldcup/france1998/matches/round=1014/match=8731/index.html|title=FIFA World Cup Archive |last=FIFA.com|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=14 May 2018}} and in 2002. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1996. He represented Nigeria at four editions of African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006, scoring in all but the first.

:Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lawal goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Garba Lawal
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition !scope="col" class="unsortable"\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
style="text-align:center"\|1 \|{{dts\|13 June 1998}} \|Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France \|{{fb\|Spain}} \|style="text-align:center"\|2–2 \|style="text-align:center"\|3–2 \|1998 FIFA World Cup \|{{cite web\|title=Spain vs. Nigeria\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/11603/Spain_Nigeria.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}
style="text-align:center"\|2 \|{{dts\|23 January 1999}} \|Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria \|{{fb\|Burundi}} \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|style="text-align:center"\|2–0 \|2000 African Cup of Nations qualification \|{{cite web\|title=Nigeria vs. Burundi\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/23520/Nigeria_Burundi.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}
style="text-align:center"\|3 \|{{dts\|22 April 2000}} \|National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria \|{{fb\|Eritrea}} \|style="text-align:center"\|2–0 \|style="text-align:center"\|4–0 \|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification \|{{cite web\|title=Nigeria vs. Eritrea\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/22264/Nigeria_Eritrea.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}
style="text-align:center"\|4 \|{{dts\|3 February 2002}} \|Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali \|{{fb\|Ghana}} \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|2002 African Cup of Nations \|{{cite web\|title=Nigeria vs. Ghana\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16589/Nigeria_Ghana.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}
style="text-align:center"\|5 \|{{dts\|4 February 2004}} \|Taieb Mhiri Stadium, Sfax, Tunisia \|{{fb\|Benin}} \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|style="text-align:center"\|2–1 \|2004 African Cup of Nations \|{{cite web\|title=Nigeria vs. Benin\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16555/Nigeria_Benin.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}
style="text-align:center"\|6 \|{{dts\|9 February 2006}} \|Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt \|{{fb\|Senegal}} \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|style="text-align:center"\|1–0 \|2006 African Cup of Nations \|{{cite web\|title=Senegal vs. Nigeria\|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/1207/Senegal_Nigeria.html\|website=National Football Teams\|access-date=1 September 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Garba Lawal

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

style="text-align:center"|1

|{{dts|13 June 1998}}

|Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France

|{{fb|Spain}}

|style="text-align:center"|2–2

|style="text-align:center"|3–2

|1998 FIFA World Cup

|{{cite web|title=Spain vs. Nigeria|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/11603/Spain_Nigeria.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

style="text-align:center"|2

|{{dts|23 January 1999}}

|Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria

|{{fb|Burundi}}

|style="text-align:center"|1–0

|style="text-align:center"|2–0

|2000 African Cup of Nations qualification

|{{cite web|title=Nigeria vs. Burundi|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/23520/Nigeria_Burundi.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

style="text-align:center"|3

|{{dts|22 April 2000}}

|National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria

|{{fb|Eritrea}}

|style="text-align:center"|2–0

|style="text-align:center"|4–0

|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

|{{cite web|title=Nigeria vs. Eritrea|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/22264/Nigeria_Eritrea.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

style="text-align:center"|4

|{{dts|3 February 2002}}

|Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali

|{{fb|Ghana}}

|style="text-align:center"|1–0

|2002 African Cup of Nations

|{{cite web|title=Nigeria vs. Ghana|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16589/Nigeria_Ghana.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

style="text-align:center"|5

|{{dts|4 February 2004}}

|Taieb Mhiri Stadium, Sfax, Tunisia

|{{fb|Benin}}

|style="text-align:center"|1–0

|style="text-align:center"|2–1

|2004 African Cup of Nations

|{{cite web|title=Nigeria vs. Benin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16555/Nigeria_Benin.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

style="text-align:center"|6

|{{dts|9 February 2006}}

|Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt

|{{fb|Senegal}}

|style="text-align:center"|1–0

|2006 African Cup of Nations

|{{cite web|title=Senegal vs. Nigeria|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/1207/Senegal_Nigeria.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=1 September 2024}}

Post-playing career

In August 2009, Lawal was named as the assistant coach of Lobi Stars F.C.{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/09/24/1520933/ex-international-garba-lawal-to-make-nigeria-league-comeback|title=Ex-International Garba Lawal To Make Nigeria League Comeback On Sunday {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=14 May 2018}} In the same year, he was employed as team coordinator for the Nigeria U17 national team.[http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=24511 Garba Lawal To The Rescue] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809111015/http://worldcup.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=24511 |date=9 August 2011 }}

In February 2014 he was appointed general manager at Kaduna United.{{cite news |last1=Ogunleye |first1=Aderonke |title=Ex-Super Eagles star, Garba Lawal, named Kaduna United manager |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/155635-ex-super-eagles-star-garba-lawal-named-kaduna-united-manager.html |access-date=1 June 2021 |work=Premium Times Nigeria |date=23 February 2014}}

Honours

Roda JC

KNVB Cup: 1996–97, 1999–2000{{cite web |url=https://www.totoknvbbeker.nl/100-finales/1997-roda-jc-wint-bekerfinale-na-doelpuntenfestival |title=1997: RODA JC WINT BEKERFINALE NA DOELPUNTENFESTIVAL |publisher=totoknvbbekker.nl |date=8 March 2018 |access-date=18 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.totoknvbbeker.nl/100-finales/2000-de-cup-is-voor-defensief-ijzersterk-roda |title=2000: DE CUP IS VOOR DEFENSIEF IJZERSTERK RODA |publisher=totoknvbbekker.nl |date=9 March 2018 |access-date=18 October 2020}}

Levski Sofia