Former Super Eagles head coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde is dead.
The family of the veteran football tactician announced his passing on Monday, in a statement issued on their behalf by Bolade Adesuyi.
Mr Adesuyi described the late football administrator and coach as a respected figure in Nigerian football and a revered patriarch in his community.
“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,” the statement said.
The family did not immediately disclose the cause of death.
Mr Onigbinde was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential football tacticians, with a coaching career that spanned several decades.
Coaching career
Mr Onigbinde was among the earliest Nigerian coaches to acquire elite coaching qualifications. In 1976, he obtained a German Grade A coaching license, becoming one of the first Nigerian coaches to achieve such certification.
He later attended an advanced coaching program in Brazil in 1981, at a time when few African coaches had access to such international training.
In 1982, he was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, making him one of the earliest indigenous managers to lead Nigeria’s senior national team.
His tenure with the national team saw Nigeria reach the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, where the team finished runners-up after losing to Cameroon.
Despite the performance, Mr Onigbinde was relieved of his duties shortly after the tournament.
Club success
At the club level, Mr Onigbinde achieved notable success with Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan.
In 1984, he guided the Nigerian club to the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, now known as the CAF Champions League.
The team narrowly lost the final to the Egyptian side Zamalek.
Return to Super Eagles
Nearly two decades later, Mr Onigbinde returned to manage the national team during a challenging period.
He was appointed coach ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Although Nigeria failed to progress beyond the group stage, the tournament marked Mr Onigbinde’s appearance as a World Cup coach.
Beyond coaching, Mr Onigbinde also contributed to football administration and technical development in Nigeria.
He served in several technical roles within the Nigeria Football Federation, including as Technical Director, where he helped shape coaching education and youth development programs.
In his later years, Mr Onigbinde remained an influential voice in Nigerian football, frequently commenting on coaching standards, grassroots football development and sports administration.
Funeral arrangements
Mr Onigbinde is survived by his children, grandchildren and extended family.
The family said funeral arrangements would be announced at a later date.
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