By Amaechi Agbo

The minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashiola Monday tendered an apology to former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof following the delay by the federal government in fulfiling its promise it made to the tactician in 1994 after Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations and also qualified for World Cup for the first time, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Fashiola made the apology Monday when the federal government handed over the key of the house promised the Dutch coach to him 25 years ago at the headquarters of the ministry, in Abuja.

The minister who extolled the patriotism of the Super Eagles then that brought Nigeria to global limelight in football, also directed the Nigeria Football Federation to compile the names and documents of all players who have not gotten their own houses and forward to him for immediate action.

Fashola, himself a first-grade football enthusiast, eulogised the virtues of football as a “great unifier, which does not bow to ethnic, religious or quota system considerations,” and hailed Westerhof for serving his time with Nigeria’s senior team with distinction, while apologising on behalf of Nigeria that the pledge took 25 years to redeem.

“Mr. Westerhof ended our long –time search for a FIFA World Cup ticket, and afterwards went on to lead the team to Africa Cup of Nations glory. As a nation, we made promises, but there was no follow-up

“I want the NFF to document those members of the squad that have not received their houses in the FCT as promised, and as soon as we receive this, we will respond positively. I was made aware that the promises had not been fulfilled through a letter by the assistant coach, Mr. Johannes Bonfrere, and we arranged for him to get his own in December 2017. Six months later, at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, a prominent journalist, Mr. Onochie Anibeze, brought it to my notice that the head coach, Mr. Westerhof was yet to receive his own house. We immediately initiated the process which has culminated in today’s event.”