“I Would Never Encourage My Son To Play For Nigeria” – Taribo West

“I Would Never Encourage My Son To Play For Nigeria” – Taribo West


Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation and the Lagos State Government for allegedly neglecting the family of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai.

In a video shared by News Central on Friday, the former Inter Milan star, speaking at Rufai’s burial, expressed his disappointment over what he called the neglect of Nigerian football heroes after their passing.

“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.

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“My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he said

The former international reflected on similar cases involving late football legends like Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, emphasising that the way former players are treated discouraged him from motivating his children to represent the country through football.

“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit in within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he stated.

Rufai, affectionately known as “Dodo Mayana,” served as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory and the nation’s debut at the FIFA World Cup that same year. He passed away in July 2025.





Source: Informationng

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