According to a report by The Punch on Saturday, October 17, 2026, former Super Eagles coach Clemens Westerhof is in critical condition after doctors diagnosed him with colon cancer in the Netherlands. His wife, Lilian, made the revelation public and asked for prayers.

Lilian told Vanguard's Saturday Editor, Onochie Anibeze, on Friday night that the 86-year-old is being treated at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown. She said he was admitted on Wednesday.

"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.

The diagnosis adds to his existing health struggles, as the Dutchman had earlier been battling Alzheimer's disease.

Lilian also raised concerns about the care he is getting. She said she hopes to move him to a better-equipped facility in Amsterdam or Germany, adding that the hospital staff "appear to have given up." She said she could not understand their attitude.

Westerhof, who turned 86 in May, remains one of the most respected figures in Nigerian football history. He led the Super Eagles to the country's first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1994 and guided the team to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia the same year.

His impact began earlier. Nigeria finished second at the 1990 AFCON and took bronze in 1992 under his watch.

The team also climbed to fifth in the FIFA world rankings during his tenure, a notable achievement for Nigerian and African football.