Garba Lawal explains Onuachu club vs country goal gap
Former Super Eagles winger Garba Lawal has outlined why Paul Onuachu continues to deliver for Trabzonspor but struggles to replicate that form with Nigeria.
Onuachu has been prolific in Turkey, scoring 22 league goals this season and establishing himself as a focal point in Trabzonspor’s attack.
The team’s tactical setup maximises his strengths, particularly aerial dominance and hold-up play, while consistent minutes have helped him maintain rhythm and confidence.
At club level, the striker benefits from structured attacking patterns and familiarity with teammates, factors that enable sustained performance over time.
His resurgence also follows a difficult spell in England, where limited playing time affected his output.
International football presents different demands
Lawal stressed that national team football operates under entirely different conditions, with less preparation time and fewer opportunities to build cohesion.
“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 said.
“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,” he added.
Tactical mismatch remains key issue
Onuachu’s record with the Super Eagles – four goals in 34 appearances, highlights the gap between his club and international output.
According to Lawal, this is partly due to differences in tactical systems, which do not always align with the striker’s profile.
From a performance standpoint, the challenge for Nigeria is to create a system that mirrors the conditions under which Onuachu thrives.
Despite his international struggles, Onuachu remains one of Nigeria’s most consistent scorers in Europe, just like fellow teammate Victor Osimhen.