{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born in 1974)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{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<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/glawal-intl.html Garba Lawal - International Appearances]</ref> | nationalcaps3 = 57 | nationalgoals3 = 6 | manageryears1 = 2009–2013 | managerclubs1 = Lobi Stars (assistant) | manageryears2 = 2009 | managerclubs2 = Nigeria U17 (team coordinator) | medaltemplates = {{MedalTop}} {{MedalCountry|{{NGA}}}} {{MedalSport | Men's Football}} {{MedalGold | 1996 Atlanta | Team Competition}} {{MedalBottom}} }}
'''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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In August 2009, he announced his return as a player-coach for Makurdi side Lobi Stars,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.
==Post-playing career== In August 2009, Lawal was named as the assistant coach of Lobi Stars F.C.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In the same year, he was employed as team coordinator for the Nigeria U17 national team.<ref>[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 }}</ref>
In February 2014 he was appointed general manager at Kaduna United.<ref>{{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 |date=23 February 2014|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref>
==Career statistics== :''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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |- |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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |- |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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |- |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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |- |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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |- |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 |<ref>{{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}}</ref> |}
==Honours== '''Roda JC''' *KNVB Cup: 1996–97, 1999–2000<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
'''Levski Sofia''' *Bulgarian Cup: 2002–03
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Navboxes | title = Nigeria squads | bg = #008751 | fg = White | list1 = {{Nigeria men's football squad 1996 Summer Olympics}} {{Nigeria squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}} {{Nigeria squad 2000 African Cup of Nations}} {{Nigeria men's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics}} {{Nigeria squad 2002 African Cup of Nations}} {{Nigeria squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}} {{Nigeria squad 2004 African Cup of Nations}} {{Nigeria squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawal, Garba}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Nigeria men's international footballers Category:Olympic footballers for Nigeria Category:Olympic gold medalists for Nigeria Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic medalists in football Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players Category:2000 African Cup of Nations players Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players Category:2004 African Cup of Nations players Category:2006 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 players Category:Eredivisie players Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players Category:Liga Portugal 2 players Category:Allsvenskan players Category:Chinese Super League players Category:Super League Greece players Category:C.D. Santa Clara players Category:Guangzhou City F.C. players Category:Espérance Sportive de Tunis players Category:IF Elfsborg players Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players Category:Bridge F.C. players Category:Lobi Stars F.C. players Category:PFC Levski Sofia players Category:Roda JC Kerkrade players Category:Nigerian football managers Category:Lobi Stars F.C. managers Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Tunisia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Tunisia Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bulgaria Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China Category:Footballers from Kaduna