Omotayo Fashola
Nigeria mourns the loss of legendary football tactician Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away at 88. The former Super Eagles coach, celebrated for leading Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, left an indelible mark on African football.
His family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a heartfelt WhatsApp statement issued by Bolade Adesuyi, a close relative. The message honored Onigbinde’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Nigerian sports.
“With profound gratitude for a life of extraordinary impact, we bid farewell to High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde—Modakeke royalty, Nigeria’s first indigenous national team coach, and a beloved patriarch.
“His visionary leadership transformed Nigerian football, inspiring generations. We find solace knowing his soul rests eternally with Christ. Until we reunite in glory, sleep well, our hero.”
Funeral details will be disclosed in due course. Onigbinde had just celebrated his 88th birthday on March 5.
Appointed twice as Super Eagles coach—first in 1982–1984 and later in 2002—Onigbinde made history by qualifying Nigeria for the Japan/South Korea World Cup. Despite a group-stage exit, his tenure remains iconic.
His 1984 squad reached the Africa Cup of Nations final, narrowly falling to Cameroon. That same year, he propelled Shooting Stars to the African Champions Cup final, cementing his reputation as a tactical mastermind.
Post-retirement, Onigbinde shaped football’s future as a FIFA and CAF instructor, mentoring countless coaches. His wisdom and passion for the game endure as his greatest legacy.
