Career
Lawal has had his most successful time at Roda JC in the Dutch Eredivisie. He also played for Julius Berger F.C. in Nigeria and Chinese side Changsha Ginde. In August 2009, he announced his return as a player-coach for Makurdi side Lobi Stars, 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 football team of the 1990s and early 2000s often being used for any position ranging from defence to attack on the left wing.
He represented Nigeria at four editions of African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006, scoring in all but the first. In August 2009 was named as the assistant coach of Lobi Stars F.C. In the same year, he was employed as team coordinator for the Nigeria national under-17 football team
