The Nigerian government has redeemed a promise to the 1994 Africa Cup winning coach Clemens Westerhof, 25 years after making the promise.
Nigeria had not won any trophy since 1980, and never made a World Cup appearance when Westerhof took over in 1989. The Dutch manager assembled arguably the best Nigerian team ever which included Austine Jay-Jay Okocha, Finidi George, Rashid Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike amongst others.
The Nigerian dream team, won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and qualified for its first World Cup. They became only the second African team to make it beyond the group stages of the World Cup after Cameroon in 1990. Only an 89th minute goal by eventual finalist Italy, denied them entry to the World Cup quarter-final on their debut.
The coached was promised to be allocated a house amongst others, which were never fulfilled by the Nigerian government.
“As the Giant of Africa, we had not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1980 when we hosted it. Westerhof led us to victory in 1994. He also ended our frustrating and unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the World Cup by qualifying the Super Eagles for their first World Cup in USA in 1994”, the Nigerian Housing Minister said.
“Many promises were made in our moment of Euphoria and elation, one of which was the allocation of a house. It is my pleasure to redeem this promise and present the documents to the house which is being renovated in readiness for occupation”, the minister added.
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