Taribo West: Why my son’ll never play for Super Eagles

Super Eagles legend Taribo West says he would never advise his son to play for the national team, following the poor treatment of sportsmen by the Nigerian government.

West, who was capped 42 times for Nigeria between 1994 and 2005, said this at the funeral rites for former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai in Lagos on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Rufai died on July 3 at the age of 61 in a Lagos hospital after reportedly battling a long-term illness.

Speaking on Thursday, West said Rufai’s family resorted to begging money online to fund the former goalkeeper’s burial.

The former Inter and AC Milan defender vowed that his son would never represent Nigeria, citing how former internationals, including Rufai, were treated.

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West, who described Rufai as ‘a hero and soldier’, lamented that Super Eagles legends who passed away were treated without any honour.

The former Eagles defender said: “Which kind of nation is this? With this kind of example they have shown in Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country.

“Do we have a football federation or football association in this state that this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist has to be treated this way and his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our group to ask for money. That is madness for me.”

West participated in two World Cups (1998 and 2002) and two African Cup of Nations tournaments.

West was also part of the historic 1996 Olympic team that won gold in Atlanta.

The Star