By Achile Danjuma
Adegboye Onigbinde, a former head coach of Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, has passed away at the age of 88.
His family confirmed his death in a statement released on Monday evening, remembering him as a towering figure in both Nigerian football and community leadership.
“With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man… High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde,” the family statement read in part. They expressed thankfulness for what they described as a fulfilled life and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
A revered high chief from Modakeke, Onigbinde was widely respected for his profound and lasting contributions to football development in Nigeria and across the continent. He was a staunch advocate for indigenous coaching and played a pivotal role in promoting and developing locally trained coaches within the Nigerian football system.
Onigbinde’s managerial career was marked by several historic achievements. He notably guided the Super Eagles to the final of the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the team secured a silver medal after a 3-1 loss to Cameroon.
He later cemented his place in history by becoming the first indigenous Nigerian coach to lead the country to the FIFA World Cup, taking charge of the Super Eagles at the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Beyond his high-profile national team roles, Onigbinde was regarded as a pioneer of indigenous coaching philosophy. His legacy extends far beyond the sidelines through his extensive work as a technical instructor for both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA. In these capacities, he mentored countless coaches and supported football development initiatives across Africa.
The family has announced that details of his funeral arrangements will be made public at a later date.