By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Nigeria is mourning the loss of one of its most respected football tacticians following the death of former Super Eagles coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away at the age of 88.
The family of the veteran coach confirmed his death on Monday in a statement signed by a family representative, describing him as a revered patriarch and one of the pioneers of Nigerian football coaching.
Onigbinde, widely respected for his influence on the development of the game in Nigeria, made history as the first indigenous coach to lead the national team to the FIFA World Cup, guiding the Nigeria national football team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Before that milestone, he had already etched his name into Nigerian football history by leading the national team, then known as the Green Eagles, to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished runners-up to Cameroon.
Beyond the national team, Onigbinde also enjoyed success at club level, notably with Shooting Stars Sports Club, and later served as a technical instructor for both Confederation of African Football and FIFA, mentoring coaches and contributing to football development across Africa.
The late tactician, born on March 5, 1938, celebrated his 88th birthday just days before his passing.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across Nigeria’s football community, with players, administrators and fans remembering him as a disciplined tactician, mentor and strong advocate for indigenous coaches.
Details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.
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