Nigeria mourns as football icon and former Super Eagles coach dies at 88

Nigeria is mourning the loss of one of its most respected football figures following the death of former Super Eagles head coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away at the age of 88.

His family confirmed the news in a statement released on Monday evening, describing him as an exceptional personality whose influence went far beyond football, touching community leadership and national development.

“With gratitude to God for a life well lived, we announce the passing of this great man… High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde,” the family said in the statement. They also expressed appreciation for what they described as a meaningful and fulfilled life while praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.

A respected high chief from Modakeke, Onigbinde was widely recognised for his immense contributions to the growth of football in Nigeria. Throughout his career, he remained a passionate supporter of indigenous coaching, consistently advocating for greater opportunities for locally trained Nigerian coaches within the country’s football system.

One of the highlights of his coaching career came during the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, when he led the Nigeria national football team to the tournament’s final. Nigeria eventually finished as runners-up after a 3–1 loss to Cameroon national football team.

Onigbinde later made history as the first indigenous Nigerian coach to guide the national team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted by South Korea and Japan, marking a major milestone in Nigerian football.

Beyond his achievements with the national team, Onigbinde also contributed significantly to the development of African football through his work as an instructor with the Confederation of African Football and FIFA. In this role, he mentored upcoming coaches and supported various football development initiatives across the continent.

The family added that details of his funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.