Former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has urged the Super Eagles to prepare for a tough road ahead in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lawal described the Intercontinental Playoff route as “long and unpredictable,” noting that direct qualification through the African group stage would have been a much simpler path.
“It’s not straightforward,” Lawal said. “Even after winning in Africa, you still have to face teams from Asia or South America. It’s a big challenge.”
Lawal, who played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, also warned that Gabon could be a serious threat, emphasizing the rising quality of African teams. 
“Gabon are well-organized. In football, structure matters more than star power,” he added.
Reflecting on his recent work with the WAFU B Technical Study Group, Lawal highlighted the rapid development of youth football across Africa.
“Niger’s U17 team outplayed Ghana until a red card changed the game. That shows how competitive things have become.”
On Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 group, Lawal cautioned against underestimating teams like Lesotho and Uganda.
“We struggled to beat Lesotho 2–1. Uganda are even stronger. There are no easy games in African football.”
With 57 caps and four AFCON appearances, Lawal stressed that success now demands preparation, focus, and consistency.