Former Super Eagles Coach Westerhof in Critical Condition With Colon Cancer

By: Ganiyu Olayinka

Former Super Eagles head coach Clemens Westerhof is in critical condition after being diagnosed with colon cancer in the Netherlands, according to a report by Vanguard.

His wife, Lilian, disclosed the development to Vanguard’s Saturday Editor, Onochie Anibeze, on Friday night, saying the 86-year-old was receiving treatment at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown.

“The doctor just told us he has colon cancer and we are all devastated. He is in a critical condition and emotional, talking about our two daughters. He wants to live. We need help. We need prayers,” she said.

According to the report published on Saturday, Lilian said Westerhof was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, adding that the diagnosis had compounded his existing health challenges.

The Dutch football tactician had previously been battling Alzheimer’s disease.

His wife also expressed concerns about the care he was receiving at the hospital and said she hoped to move him to a better-equipped medical facility in Amsterdam or Germany.

“They appear to have given up. I don’t understand,” she said.

Westerhof, who turned 86 in May, remains a significant figure in Nigerian football history because of his achievements with the Super Eagles during his tenure as head coach.

He guided Nigeria to its first FIFA World Cup qualification in 1994 and led the team to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia that same year.

Under his leadership, Nigeria finished runners-up at the 1990 AFCON in Algeria and secured third place at the 1992 tournament in Senegal.

The Super Eagles also climbed to fifth in the FIFA world rankings during his tenure, marking a historic milestone for Nigerian football and reinforcing the country’s growing status in international football.

Westerhof’s contribution to Nigerian football remains a defining part of the Super Eagles’ history, particularly the team’s qualification for the 1994 World Cup and its AFCON triumph that year.