How Clemence Westerhof Reinvented Football In Nigeria

Remember Clemence Westerhof - The Man Who Changed Football in Nigeria And Took Super Eagles to It's Most Glorious Moments

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Super Eagles Class of 94 Squad and The Dream Team of Atlanta96 Olympic games, regarded as the most successful national teams and now referred as Nigeria's football golden era. Let us not forget one man who was the architect of it all, Clemence Westerhof.

Westerhof was signed by the Nigerian Football Association in 1989 as technical adviser to oversee all the Nigeria national teams; after the senior team failed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup by failing to get at least a draw away to Cameroon on the last day of qualifying.

Nigerians were exerperated with the continuous failure of their national team since they won the African nations cup for the first time in 1980. The lackluster performances made most fans to loose faith in the team and disassociate themselves. The national team which was nicknamed Green Eagles then, were rhetorically  called "Papa Eagles" or "Old Grandma Tired Legs."

Westerhof was saddled with the job of rebuilding the team and getting the adiration of the fans again. His effect was immediate, as Nigeria reached the final of the 1990 African Cup of Nations where they lost 1–0 to the host nation Algeria.

The Rebuilding Process
Westerhof had to set high standards and put the regular national team players on their toes. He needed players who were fast and vibrant, full of stamina for the kind of formation 4-3-3 he wanted to establish with the team and many in the current squad fall short of that.

 He began to look inward in Nigeria leagues and grassroots competitions. It was said he discovered Emmanuel Amunike from Mock nations cup compeition in Ajegunle, help him sign in a pro division1 side Julius Berger fc and brought him to the national team.


He began to dislodge the "Untouchable" in the national team. He brought young Sunday Oliseh from Julius Berger to replace the mighty Friday Ekpo and brought Austin Okocha from Enugu Rangers to second Thompson Oliah in the midfield.  He also  got Daniel Omokachie from Ranchers Bees to second Rashidi Yekini in the striking role.

By the summer of 1990, after the nations cup, Amunike got to sign for Sporting Libon in Portugal,  Omokachie for Standard Brugge in Belgium, Oliseh for Lokren also in Belgium and Austin Okocha for Frankfrut in Germany. Then, the like of Uche Okechukwu had also signed for Franebache in Turkey.

In the lead-up to the 1992 African Cup of Nations, the Nigerian team decided to rebrand and adopted a new nickname "Super Eagles" thanks to their recent winning run under Westerhof. They placed third at that tournament, losing to archrivals Ghana in the semi-final.

1994 World Cup
In 1992, Nigeria began its quest to qualify for its first-ever FIFA World Cup, which would be held in the United States two years later. Placed in a group with South Africa and Congo, Nigeria finished top of its group in the first round, winning 3 games and drawing 1, and did not concede a single goal in all 4 games.

For the second and final round, Nigeria was grouped with Ivory Coast and Algeria. The Super Eagles won 2 games, drew 1 and lost 1, and finished equal with Ivory Coast on points but advanced to the World Cup with a superior goal difference.

1994 African Cup of Nations
Between the qualifying and the final round of the 1994 World Cup, Nigeria qualified for and competed in the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. After finishing top of their qualifying group (which also featured Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia), Nigeria advanced to the final round where they were placed in Group B with Egypt and Gabon. They drew with Egypt and beat Gabon to advance to the quarter-finals where they beat Zaire.

A penalty shootout win over Ivory Coast in the semi-finals set up a final match against Zambia, which they won 2–1. It was Nigeria's second African Cup of Nations trophy, the first since 1980, and the first trophy in Westerhof's career as a manager.

Fortifying The Team for The World Cup
Apart from captain Stephen Keshi, who was at the twilight of his career and then Uche Okechukwu in the heart of the defense, Westerhof searched for Nigerian players in the diaspora and brought Uche Okafor, Chidi Nwanu and Mike Emenalo from USA, Emeka Ezeugo from Bangladesh. He also ask Nigeria Football Association to sign Broferere Jo as his assistant and formed a strong technical crew.

Ahead of the world cup after Nigeria won African nations cup trophy in February, the Super Eagles were place 5th in the FIFA world ranking of March 1994, the highest ranking any Africa team has attained for all time.

1994 FIFA World Cup Group D
Nigeria entered the 1994 World Cup in Group D with Argentina, Bulgaria and Greece. Despite losing 2–1 to Argentina, wins over Bulgaria and Greece allowed the Super Eagles to do the unthinkable and finish top of the group, advancing to the second round.


 1994 FIFA World Cup, Second Round
Westerhof's side faced Italy in the second round. A first-half goal by Emmanuel Amuneke gave Nigeria a 1–0 lead at half-time, and they appeared to be heading for an upset win when Roberto Baggio scored to tie the game just 2 minutes from the final whistle. Baggio scored again from a penalty kick, 10 minutes into extra time, giving Italy a 2–1 win and knocking Nigeria out of the tournament.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Super Eagles' World Cup campaign was considered a tremendous success, and Westerhof and the players were hailed as heroes on their return to Nigeria.

Dream Team - Nigeria U23 Men Soccer Team to Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. 

The Nigerian Dream team was indeed an extension of Super Eagles, with several key players of the 94 world cup squad in the team. Uche Okechukwu, Daniel Amokachie, Emmanuel Amunike, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu. Westerhof Assistant Bonfrere Jo was incharge of the team as the head coach.

The team defeated Brazil at the semi finals after trailing 1 - 3 in what is still regarded as one of the greatest come back in football history. The Dream won by 4  - 3. And at the finals defeated.Argentina 2 - 1 to win the Gold Medal of the Men football event.

Legacy
Westerhof is credited with turning Nigeria into a perennial powerhouse in African football and showing that they, and other African nations, can compete on the world stage. He is responsible for what could be described as a "golden" period in Nigerian football. Players such as Jay-Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi Emmanuel Amunike, Finidi George and others, who all went on to successful careers with various high-profile European clubs, entered the world spotlight while playing under Westerhof.