Former Eagles Players Support Westerhof in His Cancer Fight

Former Super Eagles players are wishing Clemens Westerhof a speedy recovery as the Dutch coach fights colon cancer in the Netherlands, according to The PUNCH.

Westerhof is in serious condition at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, which is his hometown.

His wife, Lilian, shared that he was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday.

The 86-year-old had already been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, making the cancer diagnosis a tough blow for the family.

Lilian is worried about the care he is getting and hopes to transfer him to a better hospital in Amsterdam or Germany.

Westerhof’s former players have responded with prayers and supporting messages.

Emmanuel Amuneke, who scored both goals in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Zambia in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations final, told The PUNCH that this news is upsetting 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, said this situation is 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 reflected on the coach’s impact 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, who was part of the Nigeria team that won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games, expressed his sadness over the news, even though Westerhof did not coach him. His contributions to the Super Eagles earned him respect among Nigerian football fans.

“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 was the coach of Nigeria from 1989 to 1994. He led the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup in 1994 and also won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. This victory ended 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. They lost 2-1 to Italy after extra time in the round of 16. During his time, the Super Eagles also rose to fifth in the FIFA world rankings.