Bonfrere’s Aide Slams Nigeria Over Treatment Of Ex-Super Eagles Coaches

Media aide to former Nigeria coach Bonfrere Jo, Eze Okechukwu, has accused Nigerian government of neglecting and failing to adequately honour former Super Eagles coaches Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Johannes despite their contributions to Nigerian football.

Eze, who spoke in Abuja against the backdrop of Nigeria’s recent struggles on the international stage, said the treatment of the two Dutch coaches and other football heroes was partly responsible for the country’s declining fortunes in the sport.

Westerhof guided Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations title in Tunisia in 1994 and secured the country’s historic qualification for its first FIFA World Cup in the United States the same year. The Super Eagles subsequently climbed to fifth in the FIFA world rankings.

Bonfrere, who worked as Westerhof’s assistant, later led Nigeria’s Dream Team to Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, defeating Brazil and Argentina during the memorable campaign.

Eze criticised the Federal Government for awarding Westerhof and Bonfrere houses in Gwagwalada, rather than in more central areas of Abuja.

He said, “With their unbroken 30-year record, would you believe that the same federal government that claims to be worried over the dwindling fortunes of our football rewarded Westerhof and Bonfrere with a house each in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory?

“What happened to houses in the high-brow areas of Abuja? What will it take the government to give them houses in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II or Guzape?”

He also accused the Lagos State Government of failing to honour its promise to Bonfrere following Nigeria’s Olympic triumph in 1996.

According to Eze, members of the Atlanta 1996 Dream Team were each promised plots of land in Lekki Phase III, but Bonfrere allegedly remains without his property nearly three decades later.

He added that Bonfrere’s lawyer petitioned the Senate on November 6, 2025, over the matter, but alleged that the petition had yet to receive attention.

Eze questioned why the government had not intervened in the dispute, arguing that the failure to honour former football heroes could discourage future generations from making sacrifices for the country.

He also criticised the treatment of other former players and coaches, citing the late Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini and coach Onigbinde, as well as former international Femi Opabunmi, who lost his sight after his playing career.

Eze called on the Federal Government to use the forthcoming National Day celebrations as an opportunity to reconcile with Westerhof and Bonfrere, and to properly honour the country’s football heroes.

He urged the government to relocate the houses awarded to Westerhof and Bonfrere from Gwagwalada to more central parts of Abuja, while compelling the Lagos State Government to resolve the dispute over Bonfrere’s property.

He further called for meaningful support for the families of deceased football legends and a restructuring of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with greater involvement of former international players.

Eze said Nigeria must urgently reverse the decline in its football fortunes, noting that the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ reported absence from the next Women’s World Cup showed the extent of the crisis.