FORMER SUPER EAGLES MANAGER CLEMENS WESTERHOF BATTLES COLON CANCER AS FAMILY APPEALS FOR PUBLIC PRAYERS AND SUPPORT

Dutch tactician behind Nigeria's 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory hospitalised in critical condition in Arnhem as family plans transfer to specialized medical facility

Former Nigerian senior national team head coach Clemens Westerhof is in critical condition in the Netherlands after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

His wife, Lilian Westerhof, disclosed the health emergency, appealing for public support and prayers from football fans, colleagues, and well-wishers across Nigeria and the international sports community.

The 86-year-old Dutch tactician was admitted on Wednesday to Rijnstate Hospital in his hometown of Arnhem, where recent medical evaluations confirmed the oncology diagnosis as a new complication alongside his ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Expressing profound devastation over the sudden diagnosis, Lilian noted that Westerhof remains emotionally deeply attached to his family and expressed a strong desire to continue fighting for his life.

The family is currently seeking to transfer the legendary manager from the Arnhem hospital to a specialized oncology facility in Amsterdam or Germany to access higher levels of advanced treatment.

Westerhof remains one of the most successful managers in Nigerian football history, famously guiding the Super Eagles to victory in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and leading the nation to its maiden FIFA World Cup appearance in the United States that same year.