Former Super Eagles head coach Clemens Westerhof has been hospitalised in the Netherlands after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
His wife, Lillian Westerhof, disclosed the development in an Instagram post on Saturday, appealing for prayers and support as the veteran coach battles the illness.
She said Westerhof is in critical condition and remains determined to survive, despite his deteriorating health.
According to Vanguard Newspaper, the 85-year-old coach is currently receiving treatment at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown in the Netherlands.
Westerhof was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after his condition worsened. His wife said the family was considering transferring him to another medical facility in Amsterdam or Germany in search of further treatment.
“The doctor just told us he has colon cancer and we are all devastated,” she said.
“He is in a critical condition and emotional, talking about our two daughters.
“He wants to live. We need help. We need prayers.”
The Dutchman has faced several health challenges over the years. He has battled Alzheimer’s Disease for a prolonged period and also suffered a serious fall that resulted in a waist dislocation in 2022.
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Westerhof remains one of the most influential foreign coaches in the history of Nigerian football. He managed the Super Eagles between 1989 and 1994, a period widely regarded as a significant era in the development of the national team.
Under his leadership, Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and qualified for the country’s first FIFA World Cup appearance that same year.
The Super Eagles also reached fifth place in the FIFA world rankings during Westerhof’s tenure, which remains Nigeria’s highest-ever position and an African record that has yet to be surpassed.