Onigbinde was described by his family as an unequalled football coach who contributed to both the sport and community development.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Super Eagles coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde has passed away at the age of 88.
His death was announced on Monday via a WhatsApp broadcast message signed by a family member, Bolade Adesuyi.
The statement described the two-time Super Eagles manager as an unequalled football coach who contributed significantly to both the sport and community development.
“With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man—a Modakeke High Chief, the first indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed into the great beyond a couple of minutes ago.
“We thank God for his fulfilled life and his contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach,” the statement read.
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The family further stated that funeral arrangements would be communicated at a later date.
Onigbinde, who was widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern football coaching in Nigeria, made history as the first indigenous coach of the senior men’s national team.
During his coaching career, he led Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team secured a silver medal following a narrow defeat to Cameroon.
He also guided the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
