Mudashir Agboluaje Babatunde Lawal (Muda Lawal)
It will never go into oblivion that the two Egba born players, Segun Odegbami and Muda Lawal scored only 3 goals that gave Nigeria the first win of African Nations cup on the 22nd of March, 1980.
When it was seriously tough that North Africans, The Algerian players would play like fast and smart europeans, Brazilian hired Coach, Otto Martins Gloria dropped the regular striker, Ifeanyi Onyedika, for the final match against Algeria, when he pushed Lawal into the striking role.
While the 'Mathematical' Segun Odegbami scored 2 goals, Muda Lawal dashed the hopes of Algerians with 1 goal in the presence of more than 85,000 Spectators that watched the final game at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Interestingly, the difference between Odegbami and Muda was; Segun was 46 capped, Muda was capped 86 by Nigeria.
Muda remained the only African to have played in five consecutive nations cup competitions between
1976 (Ethiopia), 1978 (Ghana), 1980 (Nigeria), 1982 (Libya) and 1984 (Cote d’Ivoire).
Little did he know that he would become the famous and international Footballer.
As Ebenezer Obey sang it in his song "Baba wa, Eledumare, Baba Fona han wa"
Muda Lawal was a road side auto-mechanic in Ibadan, Oyo State.
After he must have used his muscles, exerting power to lift car engine at his mechanic workshop in Ibadan, he and some boys would look for a playing ground to display their skills in what they called '5 aside football set' in the evening.
Alas! He was discovered to have possessed prodigious and multi- football skills. He made his national team debut in 1975, the same year that he signed on by Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
He was exceptionally great player who could dribble, strike, attack and run round the football pitch for 90 minutes and score goals with thunderous shots and superb strikes.
Muda Lawal was born on the 8th of June, 1954 in Ijaye area of Abeokuta. He married Yetunde, also a footballer who was one of the pioneers female football club in Ibadan, Oyo State. Both of them were blessed with 5 Children; two are presently in London while three are in Nigeria. Oluwaseun, the Son of Muda Lawal is also a good footballer, he studied Sports science in University in London.
Muda Lawal was also member of famous 1976 IICC (Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation)
Shooting Stars Football Club side, which won Nigeria’s first continental trophy (Africa Cup Winners Cup). When the military government disbanded Shooting stars football club in 1985, the shinning star, Muda Lawal was quickly given the position in Abiola Babes football club and the club eventually won Nigerian F.A cup the same year.
There was also a famous and highly talented footballer, Christian Madu, popularly called Master Dribbler and Magician.
Unfortunately, in the qualifying match against Sierra Leone, the Rangers International’s super player only watched the match from the bench, Our Brazilian coach, Otto Martins Gloria benched him for Muda Lawal.
Again, the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Tunisia at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, that really exposed supernatural talents and superlative skills of Muda Lawal, Otto Gloria used him for different positions on the football pitch, he played as attacker and midfielder.
Mudashir Agboluaje Babatunde Lawal died on the 6th of July, 1991 in Ibadan, Oyo State at the Age of 37 years. He was buried in Ijaye, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Asero Stadium in Abeokuta was named to immortalized. With the bold inscription on the stadium fence, It is now called Muda Lawal Stadium. As diligent and patriotic as Muda Lawal, his tomb where his remains was burried at Ijaye was in sorry state while there was no visible sporting activities again at Muda Lawal Stadium which had turned into trailer park by the Ogun State government.
