Former Super Eagles Coach Festus Onigbinde Dies at 88

Former Super Eagles Coach Festus Onigbinde Dies at 88

Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away at the age of 88.

The family of the respected football tactician confirmed his passing in a statement released on Monday, describing him as a devoted family man and a towering figure in the development of Nigerian football.

According to the statement, the late coach died peacefully after living what the family described as a fulfilled life marked by remarkable contributions to sports and community development.

“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,” the statement read.

Onigbinde, a revered figure in Nigerian football history, made his mark as the first Nigerian coach to lead the national team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan.

During his career, he was widely known for promoting young talents in the national team. One of the players he introduced into the Eagles was legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who later became one of the most celebrated goalkeepers in the country’s history.

Before the World Cup appearance, Onigbinde had also guided Nigeria to a second-place finish at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team won the silver medal.

Beyond the national team, the late coach played a significant role in global football administration. He served for many years on the technical committees of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, contributing to the technical development of the sport across the continent and beyond.

Onigbinde was appointed a technical instructor by CAF in 1988 and later by FIFA in 1994, roles in which he helped train and mentor football coaches across different regions.

At home, he also served within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), where he headed the federation’s technical department and later became a member of its technical committee.

The late football icon was also a high chief in Modakeke, where he remained actively involved in community development.

His family said details of his funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.