I’ll never advise my son to play for Nigeria – Ex-Super Eagles Defender, Taribo West

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
23 August 2025

The passing of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai, fondly known as Dodo Mayana, has once again ignited a stormy debate on Nigeria’s treatment of its sporting icons. At the Service of Songs held in Lagos for the late shot-stopper, Taribo West—the flamboyant defender who once patrolled the backlines of Inter Milan and AC Milan—delivered a heartfelt yet scathing rebuke of the nation’s football authorities.

Visibly shaken and at times emotional, West did not mince words. He accused both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the government of neglecting Rufai’s family, leaving them to shoulder the heavy responsibility of burial arrangements. Though reports suggest the NFF made financial contributions, West dismissed such gestures as inadequate and symptomatic of a deeper problem: Nigeria’s chronic disregard for those who gave their lives and careers to national glory.

“For me, it is disheartening,” West lamented, his voice thick with grief. “You have Lagos State, you have the football authorities, and yet they left the family to carry this burden. It makes you wonder—what is the value of sacrifice in this country?”

West’s sorrow ran deeper than the moment. He recalled how he seldom wept even at the deaths of his parents, yet Rufai’s passing reduced him to tears. “I had goose pimples. I shed tears. What kind of nation is this?” he asked, his words slicing through the hushed crowd.

The former international extended his criticism beyond Rufai’s case. He cited the neglect that trailed the deaths of other Nigerian football giants—Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha—all men who carried the national flag with pride but were, in his view, denied the dignity befitting heroes.

In a declaration that stunned many, West said he would never encourage his own son to don the green-and-white jersey. “I will never advise my son to play for this country,” he declared. “Do we even have a football federation worthy of the name? That a hero like Rufai must be treated this way?”

Born in 1974, Taribo West carved a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most formidable defenders. Known as much for his uncompromising tackles as for his trademark braided hair, he represented Nigeria in 42 international matches between 1994 and 2005, featuring in two World Cups and two African Cup of Nations tournaments. His club career spanned Auxerre, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and several others, earning him global recognition. Yet today, West is a preacher, using both the pulpit and occasions such as this to speak against what he sees as the systemic failings of Nigerian football.

As mourners remembered Rufai—a goalkeeper who once stood tall against the world’s finest strikers—West’s words lingered as both a warning and a lament. His verdict was clear: until Nigeria learns to honour its legends in life and in death, its claim to football greatness remains a hollow boast.

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