Lawal Explains Paul Onuachu’s Club Success and Super Eagles Struggles
Former Super Eagles winger Garba Lawal has explained why Paul Onuachu continues to impress at club level with Trabzonspor but struggles to show the same form for Nigeria.
The 31-year-old striker has been in outstanding form in Turkey, scoring 22 league goals this season, according to Transfermarkt. However, his record for the Super Eagles tells a different story, with just four goals in 34 appearances.
Lawal believes Onuachu’s success in Turkey is largely due to regular playing time and a system built around his strengths. At Trabzonspor, the team’s style suits his aerial ability and hold-up play, allowing him to thrive and remain confident in front of goal. His steady run of matches and clear attacking structure have helped him stay sharp, unlike his difficult spell in England where limited minutes affected his performance.
In contrast, Lawal said international football is a completely different challenge.
“It’s important to remember that national team football is a different ball game. Even in my day, we had strikers like Jonathan Akpoborie, who struggled internationally but would return to his club and score a brace or a hat-trick immediately,” he told Footy Africa.
The former winger also pointed to limited preparation time as a key issue.
“At club level, you have the luxury of time and consistent minutes to find your rhythm. With the national team, you don’t have time to gel; you might only get two or three sessions before a match. If you don’t produce instantly, you risk being dropped,” Lawal added.
The situation reflects a wider issue within the Super Eagles setup, where players often struggle to adapt when their club roles differ from the national team system. This is not unique to Nigeria, as many top players, past and present, have performed better for their clubs than for their countries.
Despite his challenges in green and white, Onuachu remains one of Nigeria’s most reliable scorers in Europe. His fine form in Turkey continues to raise questions about how best to use him at international level, with many believing the team must adopt a system that allows him to show the same clinical edge he displays week in, week out for Trabzonspor.
