Why I’ll never advise my son to play for Nigeria – Taribo West
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has expressed anger and disappointment over what he described as the continued neglect of Nigerian football heroes after retirement.
Speaking at the burial of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, in a video shared by News Central on Friday, West lamented that Rufai’s family struggled to raise funds for his burial, describing the situation as a national shame.
The former Inter Milan star, who represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups and two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, declared he would never encourage his son to play for the country given the government’s poor treatment of retired players.
“With this kind of example they have shown in Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I will never advise my son to put his feet for this country,” West said, visibly emotional.
He accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government of abandoning Rufai’s family, questioning why those who once served the nation with distinction are left without support.
“Do we have a Football Federation or a Football Association in this Lagos State that this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist has to be treated this way and his family?” he queried.
West recalled similar neglect in the cases of late Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, stressing that Nigeria’s disregard for its past football icons discourages younger generations from pursuing national service through sports.
Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles emerged champions, and at the country’s maiden FIFA World Cup appearance the same year. He passed away in July 2025.
