Taribo West’s 1999 Salary Surfaces Amid Criticism of FG Over Neglecting Retired Football Stars

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has stirred online debate after publicly criticizing the Federal Government (FG) for neglecting Nigeria’s retired football legends. West, who famously played for AC Milan and Inter Milan, recently lamented the lack of support for ex-players struggling in retirement, citing the recent deaths of Peter Rufai, Rasheed Yekini, and Christian Chukwu as evidence of systemic failure. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Peter Rufai, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, passed away last month in Lagos after a long battle with illness. His funeral, held on August 22, 2025, sparked controversy over poor government involvement in the burial arrangements. Similarly, Chukwu, a former captain and coach, died shortly before, further highlighting the plight of forgotten football heroes.

Taribo West Blasts FG and NFF

West condemned the authorities for neglecting football icons like Stephen Keshi, Christian Chukwu, and Rufai, saying they deserved better after dedicating their prime to Nigeria’s football glory. Fellow ex-internationals Augustine Eguavoen and Samson Siasia backed his claims, calling out the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for failing to provide adequate welfare and funeral assistance for retired players.

Taribo West’s 1999 AC Milan Salary Resurfaces

Amid his criticism, online users dug up Taribo West’s earnings during his time at AC Milan. Reports from All Africa and PM News revealed that the defender earned £1.24 million (₦193 million) in 1999 — making him one of the highest-paid African footballers of his era.

When adjusted to today’s exchange rate, this would amount to around ₦2.7 billion, sparking heated debates about whether retired players who once earned so much deserve continued government support.

Mixed Reactions from Nigerians

The revelation divided opinions online:

• Goodnesse88: “Wow, that was huge! That’s about ₦16 million per month in 1999.”

• tunde1200: “Talk and make sense out of it. Leave government alone and develop yourself.”

• Maxymilliano: “What has his salary at club level got to do with NFF not doing enough for ex-players who put Nigeria on the map?”

• Putindbutt: “Did they play for the country free of charge? Were they not paid bonuses and allowances?”

• TheBillyonaire: “Were they not being paid while playing football? Was it free?”

• Jmoore: “Wetin concern Taribo’s salary with Peter Rufai?”

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