Former Super Eagles Coach Onigbinde, 88, Dies

Former two- time Super Eagles coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, 88, has died.

Onigbinde's death was announced in a WhatsApp message signed by a family member, Bolade Adesuyi.

Adesuyi described the former Super Eagles manager as an unequalled football coach who contributed significantly to both the sport and community development.

His words, “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." 

It was however, noted that funeral arrangements would be communicated at a later date.

Onigbinde, who was widely one of the pioneers of modern football coaching in the country, made history as the first indigenous coach of the senior men’s national team.

He led Nigeria to the finals of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team secured a silver medal following a narrow defeat to Cameroon as well as 

guided the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.