I’ve not received my 1996 Olympic victory reward — Bonfrere

Former Nigeria football coach Jo Bonfrère, 80, claims he has never received his 1996 Olympic gold medal or reward 30 years after leading the team to victory at the Atlanta Games. In an interview with CreativeLordTV, Bonfrère, speaking through an interpreter, said he has never seen the gold medal or the government reward promised to the victorious team.

Nigeria defeated Brazil 4-3 in a memorable semi-final and went on to beat Argentina 3-2 in the final, making Nigeria the first African country to win Olympic gold in men's football. The interpreter noted that while the players and officials received their rewards, Bonfrère had been overlooked. The dispute echoes a previous interview with The PUNCH in August 2026, where Bonfrère alleged the medal was stolen from him while in the custody of a team official, adding he still had not received the government reward given to members of the victorious team.