Former Super Eagles players have wished Clemens Westerhof a quick recovery as the Dutch coach battles colon cancer in the Netherlands, The PUNCH reports.
Westerhof is in critical condition at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown.
His wife, Lilian, revealed that he was taken to the hospital last Wednesday.
The 86-year-old had earlier been battling Alzheimer’s disease, and Lilian described the cancer diagnosis as a fresh blow.
She also expressed concern about the care he was receiving and said she hoped to move him to a better-equipped facility in Amsterdam or Germany.
Westerhof’s former players have since reacted with prayers and messages of support.
Emmanuel Amuneke, who scored both goals in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Zambia in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final, told The PUNCH that the news was a sad one for everyone who worked with the coach.
“We will pray for him, and we pray the Lord will give him the strength and give the family the strength to endure this difficult time. It is not a good one at all.
“This is someone that, when it comes to sport, you know, he has contributed a lot, not only in Nigeria but in Africa also. So I think it is a sad moment for all of us, but we wish him a good and speedy recovery. He is in our prayers along with his family,” Amuneke said.
Another member of the 1994 squad, Mutiu Adepoju, described the development as very serious. “It is very sad news. Very, very sad. It is a very serious one. I just want to wish him all the best. I wish him a quick recovery, and I pray that he gets well soon,” he said.
Adepoju also spoke on the coach’s legacy in Nigeria, saying, “He may not be Nigerian, but he is one of us. He took a lot of responsibility when he was our coach, and he did a lot of things, bringing the best together.
“We were able to do legendary things with him. He helped a lot of players in the team. He is one of the best coaches Nigeria has ever had, and he has created a worthy legacy. We really wish him a speedy recovery.”
Abiodun Obafemi, a member of the Nigeria team that won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games, said he was saddened by the news, although Westerhof did not coach him. His contribution to the Super Eagles, however, earned him lasting recognition among Nigerian football fans, many of whom credit him with laying the foundation for the 1996 success.
“I was really saddened when I heard the news of his illness. My prayer is for God Almighty to restore his health, so he can spend the rest of his old age with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in peace, joy and happiness,” Obafemi told The PUNCH.
“I will credit Westerhof as the man who laid the foundation for the Super Eagles’ rise to continental prominence and its emergence on the global stage. Under his watch, merit was the name of the game; only the best players played. There was nothing like home-based or foreign-based; it was equal opportunity for all. It was a period when Naija players, most especially the national players, were the most sought after in the world. I wish him nothing but a quick recovery and perfect healing.”
Westerhof coached Nigeria from 1989 to 1994 and led the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup in 1994. He also won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, ending a 14-year wait for the continental title, after Nigeria finished second at the 1990 tournament and third in 1992.
At the 1994 World Cup, Nigeria topped a group that included Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece before losing 2-1 to Italy after extra time in the round of 16. The Super Eagles also rose to fifth in the FIFA world rankings during his tenure.