I’ll Never Encourage My Son To Play For Nigeria – Taribo West
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has said he would never encourage his son to play football for Nigeria, citing the neglect of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai’s family by authorities.
Speaking at Rufai’s burial in a video posted by News Central on Friday, the ex-Inter Milan star condemned the Nigeria Football Federation and Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of the deceased.
“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,” West said.
He described the development as disheartening, stressing that Nigerian football heroes are often neglected after their death.
“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.
“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 added.
West also recalled similar situations with the families of Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, insisting that the poor treatment of past football icons had discouraged him from urging his children to serve the country through sports.
Rufai, fondly called “Dodo Mayana,” was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory and the country’s maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup. He passed away in July 2025.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
