Former Nigeria's senior men's national team head coach Clemens Westerhof is reportedly in critical condition after being diagnosed with colon cancer in the Netherlands.

According to *Vanguard*, Westerhof’s wife, Lilian, disclosed the development to the newspaper’s Saturday Editor, Onochie Anibeze, on Friday night, revealing that the 86-year-old was receiving treatment at Rijnstate Hospital in Arnhem, his hometown.

“The doctor just told us he has colon cancer and we are all devastated. He is in a critical condition and emotional, talking about our two daughters. He wants to live. We need help. We need prayers,” Lilian said.

She explained that Westerhof was taken to the hospital on Wednesday, describing the diagnosis as another major setback in his ongoing health challenges.

The Dutch tactician had previously been battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Lilian also raised concerns about the care her husband was receiving at the hospital, expressing hope that he could be transferred to a better-equipped medical facility in Amsterdam or Germany.

“They appear to have given up. I don’t understand,” she said.

Westerhof, who turned 86 in May, remains a significant figure in Nigerian football history for his achievements during his time in charge of the Super Eagles.

He guided Nigeria to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 1994 before leading the team to victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia the same year.

Under his leadership, Nigeria finished runners-up at the 1990 AFCON and secured third place in the 1992 edition. The Super Eagles also climbed to fifth in the FIFA world rankings during his tenure, a landmark achievement for Nigerian and African football.

His contributions helped establish Nigeria as a major force in international football, and his legacy remains closely associated with one of the most successful periods in the national team’s history.