Jo Bonfrere claims he has not received 1996 Olympic gold medal

Jo Bonfrere, the former coach of the Nigerian men’s football team, has claimed that he has yet to receive his Olympic gold medal or official rewards nearly 30 years after leading Nigeria to victory at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

During an interview in Ebonyi State, the 80-year-old Dutch tactician stated through an interpreter that while players and other officials reportedly received their rewards, he was left out. Bonfrere noted, “I have never seen the gold. That’s the problem, so I don’t know how it looks.”

In a previous statement, Bonfrere alleged that his medal may have been stolen while in the custody of a team official. He also recounted past difficulties during the tournament, including resisting pressure from a government minister regarding player selection to ensure he could field the squad he believed was most capable of winning.