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Garba Lawal. Copyright: Imago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Super Eagles<\/a> and Santa Clara midfielder Garba Lawal has revealed that NPFL Champions Rangers International have a lot of work if they’re to compete on the African Continent, Soccernet.ng reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu led the Enugu-based side to their second league title in three years, secured after their final Matchday 38 2-1 win over Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan.<\/p>\n The NPFL triumph guarantees an automatic CAF Champions League ticket for Rangers<\/a>, but Garba believes there’s so much work yet to be done for Ilechukwu’s men to transcend their domestic success to the continental level.<\/p>\n Get Our Sports News First \u2013 Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLook at Enugu Rangers\u2014their recruitment for next season has to be massive. It makes no sense to win the league, play one round on the continent, and get knocked out,\u201d Garba Lawal said in an interview with Footy Africa<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is entirely pointless. The moment you secure a continental ticket, your mentality, philosophy, and methodology must completely shift. You are no longer just playing for a club; you are representing the nation,\u201d the 52-year-old continued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On a larger scale, the Atlanta 96 Olympic-winner admitted the NPFL need proper investment to keep their best talents in the league, while improving the infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cWith proper funding, our league can attract top continental talent again, just like the days when Ghanaian stars flooded the Nigerian league,\u201d Lawal noted. <\/p>\n \u201cBut our current crop of players must understand that the continent is a completely different ball game. Winning the domestic league is just the baseline.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Moroccan side AS FAR in the CAF Champions League final ten days ago, but Lawal was frank in his opinion of the biggest final in Africa’s club competitions, claiming several people weren’t aware that a game of such magnitude was being played.<\/p>\n \u201cMany people don\u2019t even know these matches are happening,\u201d the ex-Roda JC midfielder lamented. <\/p>\n \u201cThe media coverage remains incredibly poor compared to how UEFA competitions are broadcast. This is Africa\u2019s premier club competition\u2014our equivalent of the European Champions League\u2014yet it is treated so lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless you actively follow African football, you probably wouldn\u2019t even know the final between AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns was taking place. <\/p>\n \u201cCAF needs to do more. They must invest serious effort into promoting African football properly,\u201d Garba Lawal concluded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/kO6aH7Ho8faTL97SHIn2ue3BxNc=\/2560x1707\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2Fimago1049555142-1-scaled.jpg\")
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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSoccer Garba Lawal weighs in on NPFL, CAF Champions League low awareness<\/h2>\n
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