Ex-Super Eagles coach Festus Onigbinde dies at 88

Former Super Eagles coach, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, has died at the age of 88.

His family announced his passing in a statement on Monday, describing him as a respected football tactician who made significant contributions to Nigerian football 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, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde who passed unto the great beyond a couple of minutes ago,” the statement read.

“We thank God for the fulfilled life and your contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach.”

The family said funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Onigbinde distinguished himself in Nigerian football history as the first indigenous coach to lead the Super Eagles to the FIFA World Cup, guiding the national team to the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

He was widely known for promoting young talents within the national team and is credited with introducing legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the Super Eagles.

Earlier in his career, he led Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the team finished as runners-up and won the silver medal.

Beyond the coaching bench, the Modakeke High Chief also played key roles in football administration and development. He served on technical committees of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, and was appointed an instructor by CAF in 1988 and FIFA in 1994.

On the home front, he also served as Head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Department and later as a member of its Technical Committee.