Abuja: Chief Festus Onigbinde, Nigeria’s first indigenous Super Eagles coach, passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
The family announced his passing in a statement issued by Mrs Bolade Adesuyi on Monday.
She said, “With gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of High Chief Festus Onigbinde, a Modakeke High Chief and Nigeria’s first indigenous Super Eagles coach.”
As a father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, she described his remarkable contributions to Nigerian and global football.
The family thanked God for his fulfilled life and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Adesuyi said the funeral arrangements for the late football icon will be announced later.
Onigbinde celebrated his 88th birthday on March 5. He led Nigeria’s senior men’s national team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Onigbinde coached the national team from 1982 to 1984, leading them to a silver medal at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1–3 loss to Cameroon in the final.
Nearly two decades later, he was appointed in early 2002—just three months before the tournament—to lead the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Onigbinde was appointed to take over the team just three months before the tournament, following a poor performance at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
The late coach later served as the Special Adviser on Football to the Osun State Government.
