| Garba Lawal | |
| Birth Date: | 1974 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Height: | 1.83 m |
| Position: | Left midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Kaduna United (general manager) |
| Years1: | 1993–1995 |
| Clubs1: | Julius Berger |
| Years2: | 1995–1996 |
| Clubs2: | Espérance ST |
| Years3: | 1996–2002 |
| Clubs3: | Roda |
| Caps3: | 154 |
| 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: | 18 |
| Goals9: | 8 |
| Years10: | 2009–2012 |
| Clubs10: | Lobi Stars |
| Caps10: | 3 |
| Goals10: | 1 |
| 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[1] |
| Nationalcaps3: | 57 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 6 |
| Manageryears1: | 2009–2013 |
| Managerclubs1: | Lobi Stars F.C. (assistant coach) |
| Manageryears2: | 2009 |
| Managerclubs2: | Nigeria U17 (team coordinator) |
Garba Lawal (born 22 May 1974) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left midfielder. From 2014 to 2015, he was general manager at Kaduna United. He is with the technical department of the Nigeria Football Federation.
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.[2]
In August 2009, he announced his return as a player-coach for Makurdi side Lobi Stars,[3] He was named general manager of Kaduna United in February 2014.
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,[4] 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.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes, France | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup | [5] | |||
| 2 | Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification | [6] | |||
| 3 | National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | [7] | |||
| 4 | Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2002 African Cup of Nations | [8] | |||
| 5 | Taieb Mhiri Stadium, Sfax, Tunisia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2004 African Cup of Nations | [9] | |||
| 6 | Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2006 African Cup of Nations | [10] |
In August 2009, Lawal was named as the assistant coach of Lobi Stars F.C.[11] In the same year, he was employed as team coordinator for the Nigeria U17 national team.[12]
In February 2014 he was appointed general manager at Kaduna United.[13]
Roda JC
Levski Sofia