Sports
30 Years After Atlanta ’96, Bonfrère Jo yet to be rewarded, Gold Medal Stolen
Thirty years after guiding Nigeria’s Dream Team to its first and only Olympic football gold medal, former coach Johannes “Bonfrère” Jo has expressed disappointment over what he described as the government’s failure to recognise or reward his contribution to one of the nation’s greatest sporting achievements.
Bonfrère led a talented generation featuring Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Amuneke to a historic triumph at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, United States.
Nigeria produced one of the tournament’s greatest comebacks, defeating Brazil 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling semi-final before recovering from a goal down to beat Argentina 3-2 in the final at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
The victory made Nigeria the first African nation to win Olympic football gold.
While several members of the victorious squad received national honours, cash rewards and other benefits in the years that followed, Bonfrère says his contribution has largely been overlooked.
The 80-year-old Dutchman also revealed that the gold medal he received after Nigeria’s historic triumph was stolen, alleging that it disappeared while in the custody of a team official.
Bonfrère described the incident as one of the most painful memories of his association with Nigerian football, saying that despite leading the Dream Team to Africa’s first Olympic football gold, he was not only denied government recognition but also lost the medal that symbolised the greatest achievement of his coaching career.
“They were claiming that everyone has received their rewards, but I have not received anything; they have never given me the reward for winning the gold medal,” he lamented.
“Even my gold medal was stolen from me, and I still didn’t get a reward from the government, which all the players have received, including players who were not on the list.”
Bonfrère recounts how medal disappeared
The former coach said he was unable to establish exactly how the medal was taken from him, but recalled that an official prevented him from joining the players upstairs after the final.
“I don’t know how the medal was collected from me; I only know that when the players went upstairs, an official stopped me from going with them and the medal was gone,” Bonfrère said.
Bonfrère said his repeated attempts to seek recognition from the relevant authorities had yielded little or no response.
According to him, he had made several calls and sent messages to government officials and other authorities but had received no meaningful assistance.
“I will be happy if something can be done because I have made several calls and sent messages but nobody was interested in helping me,” he said.
Three decades later, the Atlanta ’96 triumph remains one of the most celebrated moments in Nigerian sporting history and Team Nigeria’s greatest Olympic football achievement.
For Bonfrère, however, the anniversary carries mixed emotions. While he remains proud of leading the Dream Team to an historic victory, he says the occasion also reminds him of three decades without the recognition and reward he believes he deserves.
As Nigeria continues to celebrate the players and officials who made history in Atlanta, Bonfrère hopes the anniversary will also draw attention to the contributions of those whose roles, he says, have gone largely unacknowledged.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting members of the country’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, at an airport.
Obi claimed that the officials were afraid of losing their jobs if they allowed him to approach and welcome the players.
The former Anambra State governor made the allegation in a post on his X handle on Monday, expressing concern over what he described as the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.
According to him, he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the Flamingos, who had just returned to the country and were preparing to leave the airport.
Obi said he subsequently asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players and congratulate them.
However, he alleged that the NFF officials turned down the request, insisting that he should not be allowed to interact with the team.
“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs,” Obi wrote.
He further claimed that the incident was not the first time he had been prevented from interacting with members of a Nigerian national team.
Recalling an incident on March 25, 2025, Obi said that when he travelled to Uyo for a World Cup qualifying match, the state governor warmly received him at the VIP stand.
He alleged that after the match, when other government officials went to greet the players, he was prevented from doing the same, with officials reportedly citing fears of losing their jobs.
Obi expressed concern that what he described as the culture of toxic politics had continued to worsen since 2025, adding that the situation appeared to deteriorate with each passing year.
He maintained that political differences should not be allowed to undermine national unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation.
“It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences,” he added.
The Flamingos arrived in Abuja on Monday following their 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
A football referee in Brazil has reportedly issued 51 red cards following a mass brawl involving players and officials during a youth football match between Uberlandia and Mamore.
The incident occurred during a Minas Gerais Under-20 Second Division encounter on Sunday, with the confrontation reportedly lasting about 40 minutes before military police intervened.
According to Brazilian newspaper O Tempo, the violence erupted in the 54th minute after Mamore player Davi allegedly taunted the opposing team’s bench while celebrating his side’s third goal.
The situation reportedly escalated when Uberlandia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sérgio Dias Dos Santos, ran onto the pitch to confront the player.
A video of the incident, which went viral on Thursday, showed the scale of the chaotic confrontation.
Chairs and stretchers were allegedly used as weapons during the melee, while the referee’s report claimed that ball boys representing Uberlandia also joined the violence, throwing punches and kicks.
The match official, Drosghic Modesto, further alleged that he received death threats and other threats of violence from different individuals following the incident. He subsequently filed a police report over the threats.
The match was suspended for 40 minutes before it was eventually abandoned.
The referee reportedly issued 51 red cards, comprising 43 players and eight members of the two teams’ technical crews.
According to Guinness World Records, the previous record for the highest number of red cards in a single football match was 36, recorded during an Argentine Primera D fixture in 2011.
The latest incident has drawn attention to the disturbing level of violence that can erupt during football matches.
Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.
Ronaldo announced his decision on Thursday in a video shared on his official Instagram account, expressing gratitude to the Portuguese people for their support throughout his international career.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made 234 appearances for Portugal, scoring 146 goals to become the country’s all-time leading scorer and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football.
In his retirement message, Ronaldo said it was time to hand over the iconic number seven jersey to the next generation of Portuguese players.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons players have received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each, while members of the technical crew and officials received $50,000 each, following the fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s financial pledge to the team for winning the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The National Sports Commission (NSC) announced the payment in a statement on Monday, describing it as the completion of the financial component of the presidential reward package for the team’s record-extending 10th continental title.
The players had earlier received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja, alongside certificates of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, commended President Tinubu for fulfilling his promise, describing the gesture as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising sporting excellence.
“The Super Falcons made Nigeria proud, and Mr President has honoured his commitment to them in full. This means a great deal to the team and to Nigerian sports,” Dikko said.
He expressed appreciation to the President for ensuring that the promised rewards were delivered within a short period.
The commission attributed the successful payment to collaboration between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development.
Dikko noted that the fulfilment of the promise represented a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes had to wait several years before receiving rewards announced by the government.
He urged Nigerian athletes to draw encouragement from the development, assuring them that their sacrifices and achievements would be recognised.
The Super Falcons clinched their 10th WAFCON title in July 2025 after staging a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final in Rabat.
Tinubu announced the reward package during a presidential reception for the team on July 28, 2025, promising each player the naira equivalent of $100,000 and members of the technical crew $50,000 each.
He also promised the team three-bedroom apartments and national honours.
The development follows a similar reward arrangement for Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026 after winning their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025.
Members of the basketball team’s technical crew and officials also received $50,000 each, alongside housing documents and OON certificates.
In December 2025, the Federal Government also presented housing title documents and national honours to members of the Super Eagles following their silver-medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
…Beats Mbappe, Yamal after remarkable 73-goal season
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Kane received the honour at a ceremony in London on Monday night, beating Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who finished second and third respectively.
The 33-year-old striker secured the award following an extraordinary campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, establishing himself as one of the world’s most prolific forwards.
His victory ends England’s long wait for the coveted prize, with former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Michael Owen being the last Englishman to win it in 2001.
Kane also joins an exclusive list of English winners, including Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
An emotional Kane, who received the trophy from Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, described the achievement as a dream come true.
“Wow, I’m almost speechless,” he said while accepting the award.
He expressed appreciation to Bayern Munich, the England national team and his former club Tottenham Hotspur for their contributions to his football journey.
Reflecting on his rise from difficult loan spells to becoming the world’s best footballer, Kane encouraged young players never to abandon their ambitions.
“For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible,” he said.
The England captain’s achievement attracted widespread congratulations, including tributes from England manager Thomas Tuchel and Prince William.
Tuchel described the recognition as richly deserved, saying Kane’s exceptional performances had finally received the global acknowledgement they merited.
Prince William also hailed Kane as a remarkable player and inspirational captain who had given football supporters unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal claimed the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Spain’s Alexia Putellas secured her third Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Kane completed a memorable night by also winning the Men’s Striker of the Year award.
Other winners included Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who emerged as Men’s Coach of the Year, while Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Men’s Club of the Year award.
Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award in recognition of his humanitarian contributions.
2026 Ballon d’Or Top 10
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid/France
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona/Spain
Rodri – Manchester City/Barcelona/Spain
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG/Georgia
Ousmane Dembele – PSG/France
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Michael Olise – Bayern Munich/France
Fabian Ruiz – PSG/Spain
Kane’s triumph represents another milestone in a remarkable career that has seen him rise from Tottenham’s academy to become one of the most celebrated goalscorers in world football.
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