Camp fallout behind DR Congo defeat - Lawal
Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has
blamed the Super Eagles' 2-0 international
friendly loss to DR Congo on Thursday to the
fallout from Tuesday's fracas between manager
Sunday Oliseh and former captain Vincent
Enyeama.
In his assessment, Lawal said the team's display
against Congo was disappointing, while indicating
the Oliseh-Enyeama feud created disunity in the
team.
The former Nigeria midfielder expressed
disappointment at the trainer's poor show of
maturity in the face-off, urging Oliseh to see
himself as the father and act like one going
forward.
"Actually the game was not good enough and for
us to lose the game by 2-0 is
disappointing," Lawal told Goal .
"The rhythm of the game and everything about it
just went wrong. If DR Congo could beat us now it
means football is changing and there is no small
game either.
"Before we think we will meet any small country,
we think we could beat them. Now we can see
now that there are no small games. Every
game for national teams now is like a cup final in
Africa.
"It is going to be tough on Sunday and everybody
knows our game against Cameroon on Sunday is
always kicking and pushing. I believe we all got it
wrong, if we lose a game, we should know
something is wrong.
"Whether we like it or not, in football there are ups
and downs."
He praised retiring record-capped Enyeama, but
has decried the Lille goalkeeper's humiliating exit,
insisting his 13 years of patriotic services for
country was no easy feat.
"Well done to Enyeama, 13 years is not easy and
he is been doing wonderfully for the country. But I
could have loved to see him retire in a better way
and not like this," he continued.
"The whole years since he came in and started
very well and had ups and downs with the national
team. Nevertheless, Enyeama has
been wonderful, but whether we like it or not, he is
going to leave the team and the team will
continue. Only that I didn't expect him to leave this
way.
"You and I were not in the camp, but I think when
this kind of incident happened I believe the coach
could have done better. I don't know how it
degenerated to the point where a coach and his
captain will be involved in such kind of
confrontation and such exchange of words which
doesn't make sense at all.
"When a coach is new in a place he should call
the oldest player here and tell him he is a new
coach and I want to select my captain because
every coach has his own philosophy.
"He should have made him understand that he is
even more important than his captain and that
would have made Enyeama happy bearing in mind
he could leave soon and not thinking of the arm-
band.
"[Oliseh] has to learn how to control his temper.
As a coach and a manager, you are like a father
and must act as one. I think he should know how
to control himself. When you are a coach you
need to learn how to manage everybody, even
your technical crew," he lamented.
"Now there is no way you can convince Enyeama
to play for the team - he is not going to come
back with what has happened. Normally, even if
he did not retire i don't expect him to play every
game because he has contributed a lot to the
team. What has happened, has happened we
move on."
Lawal decried the impact of the recent events on
the psyche and comportment of the squad.
"Whether we like it or not, the players will begin to
hold side talks - they will be talking between
themselves and no way you can stop the side
talks because the camp will be divided into two.
"No matter how disciplined you are, no one can
stop that. Whether it divides the team or not, the
players need to take responsibility now that
Enyeama has left and has paid his dues."
He, however, urged the Nigeria Football Federation
to mend the crack walls that may have been
created within the team from the fallout.
"The NFF are there and need to do everything to
help the team remain united. It is important for the
NFF to boost the team up now and tell them what
has happened, has happened let us remain
focussed as a team," he concluded.
Nigeria will take on Cameroon in an international
friendly on Sunday.
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